Healthy Homes Assessment Vogeltown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Vogeltown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st 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 determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to evaluate both 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Vogeltown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Vogeltown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Vogeltown, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Vogeltown rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Vogeltown rental properties.

Start now and call about the Vogeltown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Vogeltown

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Vogeltown

Rental properties in Vogeltown should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just need some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Vogeltown

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising how dry air will be easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Vogeltown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the household 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 the insulation can withstand 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 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Vogeltown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Vogeltown

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Vogeltown for Rental Properties

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

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.