Healthy Homes Assessment Roseneath

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? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Roseneath rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’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 any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Roseneath rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Roseneath rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Roseneath, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Roseneath rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Roseneath rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Roseneath

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from your home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Roseneath

Rental properties in Roseneath should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the main or largest living room 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 well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Roseneath

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Roseneath

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make it easier for the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Roseneath Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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 Roseneath

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Roseneath include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Roseneath for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over when conducting an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.