Healthy Homes Assessment Crofton Downs

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Crofton Downs rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to 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 can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. needs to be done, and offer a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to evaluate 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, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to remember that landlords with several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request an house inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Crofton Downs, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Crofton Downs rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Crofton Downs rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Crofton Downs Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Crofton Downs

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within the house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Crofton Downs

Crofton Downs rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Crofton Downs

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air will be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Crofton Downs

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy to allow the house to retain the 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 measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Crofton Downs Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often what you don’t see that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s 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 present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Crofton Downs

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Crofton Downs include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Crofton Downs for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.