Healthy Homes Assessment Thorndon

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Thorndon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified for both 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Thorndon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have 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 your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Thorndon, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Thorndon rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Thorndon rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Thorndon

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A cold home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Thorndon

Thorndon rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Thorndon

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Thorndon

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient 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, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Thorndon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Thorndon

Property rental areas that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Thorndon include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Thorndon for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.