Healthy Homes Assessment Riverstone Terraces

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Riverstone Terraces rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on the Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of 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. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet 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 put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Riverstone Terraces, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Riverstone Terraces rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Riverstone Terraces rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Riverstone Terraces Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Draught Stopping Riverstone Terraces

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into your home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check 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.

Heating Riverstone Terraces

Riverstone Terraces rental properties need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Riverstone Terraces

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

Insulation Riverstone Terraces

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier for the home to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Riverstone Terraces Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Rental Property Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Riverstone Terraces include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for in the house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.