Healthy Homes Assessment Linden

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Linden rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done, and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Linden rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on the Linden rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Linden, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Linden rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Linden rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Linden Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Linden

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of the house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Linden

Linden rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the largest or main 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 well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Linden

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Linden

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy to allow the house to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Linden Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

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

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent 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 Linden

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Linden include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Linden for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.