Healthy Homes Assessment Houghton Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Houghton Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely 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 and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to evaluate 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

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

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Houghton Bay, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the standard of Houghton Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Houghton Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Houghton Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Houghton Bay

Houghton Bay rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Houghton Bay

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Houghton Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and it will make more easy for the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Houghton Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Houghton Bay

Property rental areas that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Houghton Bay include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Houghton Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.