Healthy Homes Assessment Bluff Hill

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Bluff Hill, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Bluff Hill rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Bluff Hill rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bluff Hill

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Bluff Hill

Rental properties in Bluff Hill must have a fixed heating source that can heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Bluff Hill

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Bluff Hill

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make it easier for the house to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Bluff Hill Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Bluff Hill

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standards in Bluff Hill include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bluff Hill for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over during an house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.