Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified for 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Churton Park, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Churton Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Churton Park rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Churton Park

Churton Park rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Churton Park

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Churton Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making it easier for the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.