Healthy Homes Assessment Roseneath

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Roseneath rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be completed and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, we 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

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Roseneath rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

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

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Roseneath, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Roseneath rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

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

Get started now and contact us about the Roseneath Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Roseneath

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Roseneath

Rental properties in Roseneath should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might just need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Roseneath

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Roseneath

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Roseneath Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Roseneath

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Roseneath include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Roseneath for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.