Healthy Homes Assessment Bridge Pā

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? The landlords are now required to ensure their Bridge Pā rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant 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 determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Bridge Pā rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Bridge Pā rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Bridge Pā, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Bridge Pā 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 illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Bridge Pā rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Bridge Pā Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bridge Pā

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your house require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Bridge Pā

Rental properties in Bridge Pā require a reliable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Bridge Pā

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and don’t need an opening window or door.

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

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Bridge Pā

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to current quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making much easier for the home to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Bridge Pā Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Bridge Pā

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Bridge Pā include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bridge Pā for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house assessment.