Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Breaker Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant 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 to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done and offer a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, 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 landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, 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 Breaker Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Breaker Bay rental properties.

Start now and call 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 households. A cold home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Breaker Bay

Rental properties in Breaker Bay require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dried air can be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, and stay closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Breaker Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task for the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

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

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.