Healthy Homes Assessment Strathmore Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Strathmore Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Strathmore Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Strathmore Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Strathmore Park, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Strathmore Park rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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 within Strathmore Park rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Strathmore Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Strathmore Park

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

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

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Strathmore Park

Rental properties in Strathmore Park require a reliable source of heat that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Strathmore Park

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Strathmore Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, 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 and 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Strathmore Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Strathmore Park

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Strathmore Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Strathmore Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine in an house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house evaluation.