Healthy Homes Assessment Linden

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Linden 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 fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified to assess 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Linden rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about 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 necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Linden, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Linden rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control on Linden rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Linden

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Linden

Linden rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Linden

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Linden

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Linden Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Linden

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Linden include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Linden for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property home assessment.