Healthy Homes Assessment Johnsonville

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 must ensure their Johnsonville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified for 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 tenancy is signed on a Johnsonville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Johnsonville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an home assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Johnsonville, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Johnsonville rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Johnsonville rental properties.

Start now and call about the Johnsonville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Johnsonville

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Johnsonville

Rental properties in Johnsonville need to have a stable heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Johnsonville

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding that dry air is much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Johnsonville

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Johnsonville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Johnsonville

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standards in Johnsonville include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Johnsonville for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during the house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental property home assessment.