Healthy Homes Assessment Thorndon

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Thorndon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to evaluate 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Thorndon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on the Thorndon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Thorndon, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of Thorndon rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Thorndon rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Thorndon Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Thorndon

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Thorndon

Rental properties in Thorndon need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as an air conditioner, it might require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Thorndon

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Thorndon

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with 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 property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making it easier to the house to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Thorndon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Thorndon

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Thorndon include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Thorndon for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting the home inspection to determine whether 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 moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house assessment.