Healthy Homes Assessment St Leonards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their St Leonards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

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

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and St Leonards, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of St Leonards rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping on St Leonards rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a St Leonards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping St Leonards

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the home require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating St Leonards

Rental properties in St Leonards require a reliable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it needs to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation St Leonards

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability open 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 and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation St Leonards

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making it easier for the home to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

St Leonards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments St Leonards

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in St Leonards include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments St Leonards for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property home assessment.