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? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Bay View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be done, and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified for each of 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 tenancy is signed for a Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Bay View, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Bay View rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Bay View rental properties.

Start now and call about the Bay View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bay View

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A cold house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Bay View

Bay View rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Bay View

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Bay View

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier for the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Bay View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the 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 to the Healthy Homes Standards in Bay View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bay View for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house evaluation.