Healthy Homes Assessment Glenside

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Glenside rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 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 check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified for each of 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property which 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 accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Glenside, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Glenside rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Glenside rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Glenside Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Glenside

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Glenside

Glenside rental properties need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended 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 requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it may require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Glenside

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight requirements at least open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Glenside

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make much easier to the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Glenside Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm 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 sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Glenside

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Glenside include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Glenside for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

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