Healthy Homes Assessment St Leonards

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 now have to make sure that their St Leonards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and 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 named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that 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 is also important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and St Leonards, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the quality of St Leonards rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control in St Leonards rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a St Leonards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping St Leonards

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it is likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating St Leonards

Rental properties in St Leonards require a reliable heating source that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should include a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation St Leonards

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation St Leonards

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make more easy to the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

St Leonards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments St Leonards

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in St Leonards include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments St Leonards for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for in a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.