Healthy Homes Assessment Island Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any 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 under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

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

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Island Bay, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Island Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

Start now and call about the Island Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of your home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Island Bay

Rental properties in Island Bay should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Island Bay

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Island Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to allow the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

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

See the full 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 ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 to the Healthy Homes Standard in Island Bay include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.