Healthy Homes Assessment Days Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Days Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be done, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Days Bay, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the standard of Days Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Days Bay rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Days Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Days Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Days Bay

Rental properties in Days Bay need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it might need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Days Bay

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Days Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to the home to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Days Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

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

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps 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 Days Bay

Property rental areas that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Days Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Days Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over during an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.