Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

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 ensure their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to assess 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 contract is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Churton Park, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Churton Park rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Churton Park rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Churton Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into the home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Churton Park

Rental properties in Churton Park must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must have an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Churton Park

Every living space of a rental home must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Churton Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to allow the household to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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 moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Churton Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.