Healthy Homes Assessment St Leonards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their St Leonards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant 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 your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties we 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and St Leonards, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of St Leonards rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within St Leonards rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a St Leonards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping St Leonards

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating St Leonards

St Leonards rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it may need an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation St Leonards

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able to open to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation St Leonards

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make it easier for the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher 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 – The rest 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

St Leonards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments St Leonards

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in St Leonards include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments St Leonards for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.