Healthy Homes Assessment Thorndon

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? Landlords must make sure their Thorndon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Thorndon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Thorndon, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Thorndon rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs 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 as Draught stopping in Thorndon rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Thorndon

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within the home require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

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 required to allow for movement within the structure when the household warms and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Thorndon

Thorndon rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it may need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Thorndon

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Thorndon

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make it easier to the home to hold the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Thorndon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Thorndon

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Thorndon for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.