Healthy Homes Assessment Vogeltown

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? Landlords must make sure that their Vogeltown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in 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 of rental properties we are 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Vogeltown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Vogeltown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Vogeltown, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Vogeltown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Vogeltown rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Vogeltown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Vogeltown

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Vogeltown

Vogeltown rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it could require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Vogeltown

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Vogeltown

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy to allow the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Vogeltown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Vogeltown

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Vogeltown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Vogeltown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.