Healthy Homes Assessment Houghton Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Houghton Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 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 and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Houghton Bay, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the standard of Houghton Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Houghton Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Houghton Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Houghton Bay

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Houghton Bay

Houghton Bay rental properties require a reliable source of heat which can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Houghton Bay

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Houghton Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier to allow the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet 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, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Houghton Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s 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 your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Houghton Bay

Property rental areas that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Houghton Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Houghton Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.