Healthy Homes Assessment Boulcott

Rental Property Expert Advice

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 make sure that their Boulcott rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st 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 to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be done, and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Boulcott rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and request a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Boulcott, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Boulcott rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Boulcott rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Boulcott Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Boulcott

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Boulcott

Boulcott rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. 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 mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source like heat pumps, it might require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Boulcott

Every living space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising how dried air can be more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Boulcott

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make much easier to the household to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands 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 – all area 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Boulcott Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Boulcott

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Boulcott include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Boulcott for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.