Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed 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 can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified for both 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, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house assessment done on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Churton Park, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Churton Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Churton Park rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Churton Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within the house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Churton Park

Rental properties in Churton Park need to have a stable heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might just require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Churton Park

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Churton Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Churton Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.