Healthy Homes Assessment Avalon

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Avalon 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach 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 healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Avalon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Avalon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Avalon, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the quality of Avalon rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Avalon rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Avalon Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Draught Stopping Avalon

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements 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 hole or gap, then it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Heating Avalon

Avalon rental properties need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Avalon

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

Insulation Avalon

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to the house to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Avalon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Rental Property Home Assessments Avalon

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Avalon include each:

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

Home Assessments Avalon for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.