Healthy Homes Assessment Glenside

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Glenside rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Glenside, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Glenside rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Glenside rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Glenside

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the home heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Glenside

Rental properties in Glenside require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it might require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Glenside

Every living space of a rental home must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Glenside

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the home to retain warmth.

Insulation needs 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 insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Glenside Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Glenside

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Glenside include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Glenside for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for during a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.