Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are 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 assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

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 an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Alicetown, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Alicetown rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Alicetown rental properties.

Start now and call about the Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Alicetown

Alicetown rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with a 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 required. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Alicetown

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation 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 this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Alicetown

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Alicetown

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Alicetown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during the home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.