Healthy Homes Assessment Lyall Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Lyall Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

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

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Lyall Bay, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Lyall Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Lyall Bay rental properties.

Start now and call about the Lyall Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lyall Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your house require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Lyall Bay

Lyall Bay rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current installed 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 small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Lyall Bay

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Lyall Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the home to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Lyall Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid 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’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lyall Bay

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lyall Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.