Healthy Homes Assessment Bay View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Bay View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

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

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on the 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 Bay View, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Bay View rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Bay View rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Bay View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bay View

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your home need seals. For example, 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 that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Bay View

Rental properties in Bay View should have a permanent heating source which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Bay View

Every living space of a rental house must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Bay View

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might 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 to the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Bay View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Bay View

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Bay View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bay View for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for when conducting the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.