Healthy Homes Assessment Parkvale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Parkvale 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 fully in compliance by July 1st 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 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 which requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

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

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Parkvale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Parkvale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request 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 so important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Parkvale, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Parkvale rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Parkvale rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Parkvale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Parkvale

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A humid house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within the house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Parkvale

Rental properties in Parkvale require a reliable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the installed 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 mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it may require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Parkvale

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Parkvale

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make much easier to allow the household to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Parkvale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Parkvale

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Parkvale include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Parkvale for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over when conducting the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.