Healthy Homes Assessment Linden

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? Landlords must make sure their Linden rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Linden rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out It could also 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 when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Linden, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the quality of Linden rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control in Linden rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Linden Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Linden

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into the home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Linden

Linden rental properties require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable 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 an electric heater or heat source, it should include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Linden

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising that dried air can be less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Linden

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes much easier for the home to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Linden Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Linden

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Linden include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Linden for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.