Healthy Homes Assessment Homedale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to assess both 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Homedale, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Homedale rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Homedale rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Homedale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure as the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Homedale

Rental properties in Homedale must have a fixed heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Homedale

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Homedale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to allow the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements 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 withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing 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 through The Healthy Homes Standard in Homedale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties home assessment.