Healthy Homes Assessment Thorndon

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 their Thorndon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified to assess both 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Thorndon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Thorndon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Thorndon, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Thorndon rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Thorndon rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Thorndon Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Thorndon

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from the house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Thorndon

Rental properties in Thorndon need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Thorndon

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Thorndon

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make it easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

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

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

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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Thorndon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing 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 Thorndon

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Thorndon for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.