Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that 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 must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

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

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an house inspection 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 are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Breaker Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs 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, and Draught Stopping in Breaker Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Breaker Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it is most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into the house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the house warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Breaker Bay

Breaker Bay rental properties should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Breaker Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Breaker Bay include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

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

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties home evaluation.