Healthy Homes Assessment Bluff Hill

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Bluff Hill 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach 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 are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Bluff Hill, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Bluff Hill rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , 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, and Draught-stopping for Bluff Hill rental properties.

Start now and call about the Bluff Hill Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bluff Hill

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Bluff Hill

Rental properties in Bluff Hill need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

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

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Bluff Hill

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Bluff Hill

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to allow the household to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Bluff Hill Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only 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 prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists 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 Bluff Hill

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standard in Bluff Hill include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bluff Hill for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.