Healthy Homes Assessment Longlands

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Longlands rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Longlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Longlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

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

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Longlands, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Longlands rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Longlands rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Longlands Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Longlands

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A draughty home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Longlands

Longlands rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must include the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Longlands

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that 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 quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Longlands

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make much easier for the home to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Longlands Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Longlands

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Longlands include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Longlands for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.