Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must 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 and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely certified for 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 brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new 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 relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Churton Park, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. 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 well-being.

Improving the quality of Churton Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

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

Begin now by calling about getting a Churton Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps 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, then it is likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out into your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Churton Park

Rental properties in Churton Park need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors 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) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it may require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Churton Park

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Churton Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to allow the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements 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 resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

Rental property areas affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Churton Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.