Healthy Homes Assessment Melling

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 that their Melling rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in 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. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in 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 associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely qualified for 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Melling, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Melling rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Melling rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Melling Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Melling

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Melling

Rental properties in Melling need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the living room 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 heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it may require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Melling

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Melling

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes an easier task to allow the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Melling Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Melling

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Melling include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Melling for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up 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 in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.