Healthy Homes Assessment Island Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under 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 healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Island Bay, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Island Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and 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 can lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out from your home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Island Bay

Rental properties in Island Bay should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it could need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Island Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening window or door.

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Island Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands 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 remainder 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Island Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including 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 assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.