Healthy Homes Assessment Island Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required 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 completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement 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 the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So 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 and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Island Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Island Bay rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Island Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can 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 entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building when the home heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Island Bay

Rental properties in Island Bay must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on 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 heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to include the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Island Bay

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Island Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes it easier to the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Island Bay

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Island Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties house assessment.