Healthy Homes Assessment Seatoun

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 must make sure that their Seatoun rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to evaluate each of 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 brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Seatoun rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Seatoun rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

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

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental 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.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Seatoun, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Seatoun rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Seatoun rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Seatoun Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Seatoun

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs 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, then it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into your home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Seatoun

Rental properties in Seatoun require a reliable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter 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 source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require a top up 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 and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Seatoun

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising that dried air can be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Seatoun

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to the household to retain the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the 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 floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Seatoun Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

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

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Seatoun

Rental property areas affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Seatoun include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Seatoun for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check during the house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home assessment.