Healthy Homes Assessment Melling

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Melling rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 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 determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given 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 the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Melling, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Melling rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also 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 listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Melling rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Melling Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Melling

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Melling

Rental properties in Melling should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living space to at least 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 health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Melling

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dried air can be less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Melling

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to the house to hold heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Melling Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

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

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Melling

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Melling include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Melling for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine during an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.