Healthy Homes Assessment Taradale

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 ensure that their Taradale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Taradale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Taradale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Taradale, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Taradale rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Taradale rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Taradale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Taradale

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and 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 is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of your home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Taradale

Taradale rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Taradale

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Taradale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to the house to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

Taradale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Taradale

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standards in Taradale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Taradale for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.