Healthy Homes Assessment Broadmeadows

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Broadmeadows rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas 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 standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate 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 tenancy is signed on a Broadmeadows rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so 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 current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Broadmeadows, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Broadmeadows rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Broadmeadows rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having 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 damp house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out from the home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Broadmeadows

Rental properties in Broadmeadows need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Broadmeadows

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Broadmeadows

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make it easier for the home to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Broadmeadows Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about 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 Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Broadmeadows include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Broadmeadows for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.