Healthy Homes Assessment Stokes Valley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Stokes Valley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be done, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified for 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Stokes Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Stokes Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Stokes Valley, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Stokes Valley rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on Stokes Valley rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Stokes Valley

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building when the house warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Stokes Valley

Rental properties in Stokes Valley require a reliable heating source which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it may need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Stokes Valley

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Stokes Valley

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to allow the house to keep 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 resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Stokes Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Stokes Valley

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Stokes Valley include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Stokes Valley for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property house assessment.