Healthy Homes Assessment Plimmerton

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 ensure their Plimmerton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified for each of 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Plimmerton, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Plimmerton rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Plimmerton

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A damp house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Plimmerton

Rental properties in Plimmerton require a reliable source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Plimmerton

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Plimmerton

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge 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 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Plimmerton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the 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 through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Plimmerton include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Plimmerton for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.