Healthy Homes Assessment Oriental Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Oriental Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be done and offer a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Oriental Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on an Oriental Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request an home assessment performed on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Oriental Bay, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Oriental Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Oriental Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Oriental Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Oriental Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out from the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Oriental Bay

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

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it requirements to have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it could need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Oriental Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable 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 needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Oriental Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Oriental Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into 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 standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Oriental Bay

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Oriental Bay for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house assessment.