Healthy Homes Assessment Harbour View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Harbour View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Harbour View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Harbour View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Harbour View, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Harbour View rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Harbour View rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Harbour View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Harbour View

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

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Harbour View

Rental properties in Harbour View need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Harbour View

Every living space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Harbour View

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Harbour View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and 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 is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Harbour View

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Harbour View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Harbour View for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.