Healthy Homes Assessment Plimmerton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Plimmerton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in 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. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

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

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Plimmerton, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Plimmerton rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Plimmerton rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Plimmerton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Plimmerton

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Plimmerton

Rental properties in Plimmerton require a reliable heating source which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to have an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Plimmerton

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Plimmerton

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making it easier to allow the household to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Plimmerton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Plimmerton

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Plimmerton include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Plimmerton for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.