Healthy Homes Assessment Johnsonville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Johnsonville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified to assess 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Johnsonville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Johnsonville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could 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 accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Johnsonville, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Johnsonville rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Johnsonville rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Johnsonville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Johnsonville

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A cold home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within the house require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Johnsonville

Rental properties in Johnsonville need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must have the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Johnsonville

Each liveable space in a rental house must 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 take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Johnsonville

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make more easy to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Johnsonville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Johnsonville

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Johnsonville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Johnsonville for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine in the home assessment to see 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 moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.