Healthy Homes Assessment Johnsonville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Johnsonville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified to evaluate each of 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Johnsonville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Johnsonville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

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

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on 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 so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Johnsonville, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Johnsonville rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about getting a Johnsonville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Johnsonville

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Johnsonville

Johnsonville rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Johnsonville

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding that dried air can be easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Johnsonville

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy for the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Johnsonville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Johnsonville

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Johnsonville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Johnsonville for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and 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 stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call now and schedule your rental property house assessment.