Healthy Homes Assessment Broadmeadows

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 now have to make sure their Broadmeadows rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in 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 healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Broadmeadows rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Broadmeadows rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

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

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Broadmeadows, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Broadmeadows rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Broadmeadows rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Broadmeadows

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Broadmeadows

Rental properties in Broadmeadows require a reliable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current 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 the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds 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 regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Broadmeadows

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dried air can be much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The 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 areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Broadmeadows

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make much easier to the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Broadmeadows Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Broadmeadows

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Broadmeadows include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Broadmeadows for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.