Healthy Homes Assessment Avalon

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? Landlords now have to ensure that their Avalon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Avalon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Avalon, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Avalon rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Avalon rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Avalon

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your home require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Avalon

Rental properties in Avalon require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it may require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Avalon

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Avalon

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to allow the home to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Avalon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Avalon

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Avalon include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Avalon for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

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

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.