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 effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Island Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed 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.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

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

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Island Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Island Bay rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Island Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A humid house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Island Bay

Island Bay rental properties require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must have a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Island Bay

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is 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 to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Island Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task for the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Island Bay

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for during the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.