Healthy Homes Assessment Broadmeadows

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Broadmeadows rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work which requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation 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 healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Broadmeadows, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Broadmeadows rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Broadmeadows rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Broadmeadows Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Broadmeadows

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Broadmeadows

Broadmeadows rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should include the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, 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 main living space already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it could require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Broadmeadows

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Broadmeadows

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Broadmeadows Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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 Broadmeadows

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standard in Broadmeadows include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Broadmeadows for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.