Healthy Homes Assessment Petone

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure 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 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 will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with 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 healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on the Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Petone, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Petone rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work 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 run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Petone rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Petone Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Petone

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A draughty house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Petone

Petone rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it might need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Petone

Every living space of a rental home must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Petone

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making more easy for the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Petone Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Petone

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Petone include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Petone for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.