Healthy Homes Assessment Riverstone Terraces

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Riverstone Terraces, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Riverstone Terraces rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Riverstone Terraces rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Riverstone Terraces

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within the house need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Riverstone Terraces

Rental properties in Riverstone Terraces must have a fixed heating source that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it needs to include the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Riverstone Terraces

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Riverstone Terraces

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to allow the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Riverstone Terraces Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent 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 Riverstone Terraces

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Riverstone Terraces include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.