Healthy Homes Assessment Oriental Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Oriental Bay 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 completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified for each of 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, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on an Oriental Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Oriental Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease 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 information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Oriental Bay, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Oriental Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Oriental Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Oriental Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Oriental Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A damp house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being homes

Heating Oriental Bay

Rental properties in Oriental Bay require a reliable source of heat which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Oriental Bay

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. This 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.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Oriental Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making it easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Oriental Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Oriental Bay

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Oriental Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Oriental Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.