Healthy Homes Assessment Camberley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Camberley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties 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 evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Camberley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Camberley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Camberley, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the quality of Camberley rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Camberley rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Camberley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Camberley

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Camberley

Camberley rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it could require an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Camberley

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Camberley

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier for the household to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, 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 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Camberley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Camberley

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Camberley include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Camberley for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental property home assessment.