Healthy Homes Assessment Longlands

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 ensure their Longlands rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be completed and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate both 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Longlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a Longlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or 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 as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person renting 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 up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Longlands, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Longlands rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control on Longlands rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Longlands Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Longlands

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty house costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Longlands

Rental properties in Longlands must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Longlands

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Longlands

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy to the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands 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 of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Longlands Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing 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

Property rental areas that are affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Longlands include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Longlands for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.