Healthy Homes Assessment Homedale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Homedale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Homedale, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Homedale rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Homedale rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Homedale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the house warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Homedale

Homedale rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it may need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Homedale

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Homedale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making it easier for the house to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Homedale

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Homedale include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in the home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental properties home assessment.