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 July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure 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 are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to assess 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, 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 home they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Churton Park, and research has shown 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.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Churton Park rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Churton Park rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within the house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Churton Park

Rental properties in Churton Park need to have a stable heating source that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Churton Park

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult 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 considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Churton Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of this 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 to the Healthy Homes Standards in Churton Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for when conducting the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.