Healthy Homes Assessment Bay View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Bay View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a 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 determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

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

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Bay View, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Bay View rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Bay View rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Bay View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bay View

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within your home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Bay View

Bay View rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested 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 minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Bay View

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Bay View

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

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

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

Bay View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Bay View

Property rental areas that are affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Bay View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bay View for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.