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 new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Glenside, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Glenside rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

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 on Glenside rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Glenside

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Glenside

Glenside rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, 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 outlook.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Glenside

Each living space within a rental house must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Glenside

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Glenside Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor 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

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Glenside include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Glenside for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.