Healthy Homes Assessment Plimmerton

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 ensure their Plimmerton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must 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 evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Plimmerton, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Plimmerton rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Plimmerton rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Plimmerton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Plimmerton

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within the home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Plimmerton

Plimmerton rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Plimmerton

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements at least to open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Plimmerton

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to the household to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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

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

Plimmerton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Plimmerton

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Plimmerton include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Plimmerton for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.