Healthy Homes Assessment Stokes Valley

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 must ensure that their Stokes Valley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified for 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Stokes Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Stokes Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Stokes Valley, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Stokes Valley rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Stokes Valley rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Stokes Valley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Stokes Valley

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will test all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Stokes Valley

Stokes Valley rental properties should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate 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 acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Stokes Valley

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Stokes Valley

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to allow the home to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Stokes Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Stokes Valley

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Stokes Valley include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Stokes Valley for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during an home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• 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 on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.