Healthy Homes Assessment Flaxmere

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Flaxmere rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements 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 fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Flaxmere rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Flaxmere rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is 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 Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Flaxmere, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Flaxmere rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance 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 on Flaxmere rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Flaxmere

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Flaxmere

Flaxmere rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the most 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 wellbeing.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current 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 mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Flaxmere

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air is more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Flaxmere

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to allow the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Flaxmere Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing 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 Flaxmere

Property rental areas that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Flaxmere include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Flaxmere for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting a home 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 well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.