Healthy Homes Assessment Thorndon

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Thorndon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must 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 assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Thorndon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Thorndon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Thorndon, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the quality of Thorndon rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Thorndon rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Thorndon Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Thorndon

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of 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 entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Thorndon

Thorndon rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just need an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Thorndon

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air will be easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Thorndon

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes 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 subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making it easier to allow the home to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Thorndon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Thorndon

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Thorndon for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.