Healthy Homes Assessment Napier South

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Napier South rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Napier South rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Napier South rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s important to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment done for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Napier South, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Napier South rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Napier South rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Napier South Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Napier South

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Napier South

Rental properties in Napier South should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to include a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Napier South

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our 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.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Napier South

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make much easier for the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Napier South Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Napier South

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Napier South include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Napier South for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for in an house review to determine 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 moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.