Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Breaker Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to 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 will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

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 on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to remember that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Breaker Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Breaker Bay rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Breaker Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Breaker Bay

Rental properties in Breaker Bay must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it may require a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Breaker Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier for the home to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Breaker Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

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