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? Landlords are now required to ensure their Homedale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Homedale, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Homedale rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Homedale rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Homedale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into the home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Homedale

Rental properties in Homedale must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Homedale

Each liveable space in a rental home must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Homedale

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to allow the house to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Homedale

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Homedale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.