Healthy Homes Assessment Bluff Hill

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Bluff Hill rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified 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 your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements 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

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Bluff Hill, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Bluff Hill rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning 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, and Draught-stopping for Bluff Hill rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Bluff Hill Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bluff Hill

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

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

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

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Bluff Hill

Rental properties in Bluff Hill must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it could need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Bluff Hill

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air is easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Bluff Hill

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to the home to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Bluff Hill Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Bluff Hill

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Bluff Hill include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bluff Hill for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.