Healthy Homes Assessment Broadmeadows

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Broadmeadows rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely 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 assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to assess 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Broadmeadows rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 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 by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information 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 can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed on 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?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Broadmeadows, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Broadmeadows rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about having a Broadmeadows Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Broadmeadows

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being homes

Heating Broadmeadows

Rental properties in Broadmeadows should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Broadmeadows

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Broadmeadows

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy to the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and 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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Broadmeadows Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor 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

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Broadmeadows include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Broadmeadows for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in the home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.