Healthy Homes Assessment Island Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Island Bay 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 fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be completed and offer a report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Island Bay, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the standard of Island Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Island Bay rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Island Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Island Bay

Island Bay rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Island Bay

Every living space of a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Island Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy to the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation withstands 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 – the remainder of the 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

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

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Island Bay

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Island Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.