Healthy Homes Assessment Roys Hill

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Roys Hill rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

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 Roys Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Roys Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Roys Hill, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Roys Hill rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Roys Hill rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Roys Hill Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Roys Hill

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household warms and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Roys Hill

Rental properties in Roys Hill must have a fixed heating source that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Roys Hill

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Roys Hill

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make much easier for the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of 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.

Roys Hill Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Roys Hill

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Roys Hill include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Roys Hill for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.