Healthy Homes Assessment Newlands

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Newlands 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 by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. needs to be done and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Newlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Newlands, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Newlands rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Start now and call about getting a Newlands Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newlands

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being homes

Heating Newlands

Rental properties in Newlands should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Newlands

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Newlands

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making more easy for the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher 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 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Newlands Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Newlands

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Newlands include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newlands for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check in a house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.