Healthy Homes Assessment Island Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Island Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or amended 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 relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Island Bay, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Island Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Island Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Island Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A humid home costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Island Bay

Rental properties in Island Bay need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This will 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 required. However, in certain instances like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Island Bay

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Island Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to allow the home to retain heat.

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

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

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

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

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Island Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Island Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house assessment.