Healthy Homes Assessment Longlands

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Longlands rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order 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 any work which requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified to evaluate 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, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Longlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Longlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Longlands, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Longlands rental property can help tenants enjoy better 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 costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Longlands rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Longlands Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Longlands

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from your home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Longlands

Rental properties in Longlands require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Longlands

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that dry air is much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Longlands

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Longlands Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Longlands

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Longlands include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Longlands for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.