Healthy Homes Assessment Petone

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Petone rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate 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 about the tasks which requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified to assess both 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 brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Petone, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Petone rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in 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-stopping within Petone rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Petone Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Petone

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Petone

Rental properties in Petone must have a fixed heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

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

If your living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Petone

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air is more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside and remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Petone

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes an easier task to the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Petone Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure 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 is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Petone

Property rental areas that are affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Petone include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Petone for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.