Healthy Homes Assessment Clive

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Clive rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any 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 can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations 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 up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Clive rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Clive rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Clive, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Clive rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

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-stopping within Clive rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Clive Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clive

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into your house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Clive

Clive rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Clive

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Clive

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to allow the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Clive Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring 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 Clive

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Clive include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clive for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.