Healthy Homes Assessment St Leonards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their St Leonards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties 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 will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of 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 $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and St Leonards, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of St Leonards rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in St Leonards rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a St Leonards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping St Leonards

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into your home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating St Leonards

St Leonards rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it must have the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may need an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation St Leonards

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that dried air can be more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation St Leonards

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making an easier task for the household to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

St Leonards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the 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 St Leonards

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in St Leonards include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments St Leonards for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.