Healthy Homes Assessment Houghton Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Houghton Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 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’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Houghton Bay, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Houghton Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Houghton Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Houghton Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Houghton Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into your house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Houghton Bay

Houghton Bay rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Houghton Bay

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Houghton Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

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

Houghton Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Houghton Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Houghton Bay include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Houghton Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over during the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.