Healthy Homes Assessment Homedale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Homedale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Homedale, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Homedale rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Homedale rental properties.

Get started now and contact us 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 homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Homedale

Homedale rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it requirements to include the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it may require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Homedale

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Homedale

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to allow the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The 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 to The Healthy Homes Standards in Homedale include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.