Healthy Homes Assessment Normandale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Normandale 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 completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Normandale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Normandale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s important to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Normandale, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Normandale rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Normandale rental properties.

Start now and call about the Normandale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Normandale

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Normandale

Normandale rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 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 fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Normandale

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Normandale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet 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 more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Normandale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Normandale

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Normandale include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Normandale for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.