Healthy Homes Assessment Newlands

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Newlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Newlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information 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 necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even 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, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Newlands, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Newlands rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Newlands rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Newlands Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Draught Stopping Newlands

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Heating Newlands

Newlands rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Newlands

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding how dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

Insulation Newlands

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes more easy for the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Newlands Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Rental Property Home Assessments Newlands

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Newlands include each:

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

Home Assessments Newlands for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during the home review 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 insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house assessment.