Healthy Homes Assessment Petone

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Petone rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 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 standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Petone, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Petone rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in 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 Draught stopping in Petone rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Petone Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Petone

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring 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 instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Petone

Rental properties in Petone require a reliable heating source that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Petone

Every living space of a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Petone

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make an easier task to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Petone Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent 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 Petone

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Petone include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Petone for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.