Healthy Homes Assessment Houghton Bay

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 ensure their Houghton Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be completed and offer a 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 under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment done for your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Houghton Bay, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Houghton Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control for Houghton Bay rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Houghton Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Houghton Bay

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A humid home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Houghton Bay

Houghton Bay rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Houghton Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Houghton Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to allow the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, 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 and floor 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Houghton Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full 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 Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Houghton Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.