Healthy Homes Assessment Mayfair

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? Landlords must make sure that their Mayfair 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Mayfair rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Mayfair rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and 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 up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request an home inspection performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Mayfair, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improve the quality of Mayfair rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Mayfair rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Mayfair Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mayfair

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Mayfair

Mayfair rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can heat the living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it should have the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it may require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Mayfair

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs at least to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Mayfair

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge 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 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 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 quality.

Mayfair Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mayfair

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Mayfair include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mayfair for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties home evaluation.