Healthy Homes Assessment Johnsonville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Johnsonville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in 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 the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be completed and provide a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Johnsonville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Johnsonville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Johnsonville, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Johnsonville rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Johnsonville rental properties.

Start now and call about the Johnsonville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Johnsonville

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Johnsonville

Rental properties in Johnsonville need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Johnsonville

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Johnsonville

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making it easier for the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Johnsonville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected 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 surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Johnsonville

Property rental areas that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Johnsonville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Johnsonville for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.