Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Alicetown, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Alicetown rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Alicetown rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area 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 gap or hole and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as 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 as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Alicetown

Rental properties in Alicetown require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Alicetown

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Alicetown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making it easier for the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Alicetown

Property rental areas that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Alicetown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for in the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties home assessment.