Healthy Homes Assessment Seaview

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Seaview rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Seaview rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Seaview rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Seaview, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Seaview rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Seaview rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Seaview Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Seaview

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Seaview

Rental properties in Seaview must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it could require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Seaview

Every living space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Seaview

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task for the home to keep warmth.

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 the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of 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

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

Seaview Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital 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 ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Seaview

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Seaview include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Seaview for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties home evaluation.