Healthy Homes Assessment Island 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 make sure their Island Bay 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, and 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Island Bay, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Island Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Island Bay rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Island Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Island Bay

Rental properties in Island Bay require a reliable source of heat 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 recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll 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 acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it might just need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Island Bay

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Island Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task to the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent 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 Island Bay

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Island Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for in 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:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.