Healthy Homes Assessment Newlands

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to 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 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 assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Newlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Newlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Newlands, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Newlands rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Contact us now to discuss having a Newlands Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newlands

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Newlands

Newlands rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Newlands

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Newlands

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to allow the home to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Newlands Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed 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.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Newlands

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newlands for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.