Healthy Homes Assessment Island Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Island Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to 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 assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be done and offer the report with all the details required for 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 who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Island Bay, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Island Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Island Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Island Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, 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 from a gap or hole, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

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

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Island Bay

Rental properties in Island Bay should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Island Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Island Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task to allow the household to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing 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 Island Bay

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.