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

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the necessary information for 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 not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Houghton Bay, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Houghton Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Houghton Bay rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Houghton Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Houghton Bay

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Houghton Bay

Rental properties in Houghton Bay require a reliable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space 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 wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source like a heat pump, then it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Houghton Bay

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air is more easy to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Houghton Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Houghton Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as 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 also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Houghton Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Houghton Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Houghton Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over in a home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, 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 have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.