Healthy Homes Assessment Normandale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Normandale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to assess 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Normandale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Normandale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Normandale, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Normandale rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Normandale rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Normandale

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A damp house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Normandale

Normandale rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just need an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Normandale

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that 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 considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Normandale

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to allow the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Normandale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Normandale

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Normandale for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over during an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.