Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Churton Park, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Churton Park rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for 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 can lead to less temperature in homes. A damp house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will examine every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Churton Park

Churton Park rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Churton Park

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Churton Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to the home to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the 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

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Churton Park include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.