Healthy Homes Assessment Houghton Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Houghton Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate each of 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 contract is signed on a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Houghton Bay, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Houghton Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control on Houghton Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving 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 homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Houghton Bay

Rental properties in Houghton Bay require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Houghton Bay

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be much easier 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 areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Houghton Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Houghton Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface 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 keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Houghton Bay

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Houghton Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Houghton Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home 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 falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property house assessment.