Healthy Homes Assessment Glenside

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? Landlords must make sure that their Glenside rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be done and provide a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified for 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 or renewed tenancy is signed for a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Glenside, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Glenside rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Glenside rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Glenside

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A damp house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Glenside

Rental properties in Glenside require a reliable heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Glenside

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

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

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Glenside

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier for the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Glenside Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Glenside

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Glenside include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Glenside for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over during a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and 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 regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property home assessment.