Healthy Homes Assessment Petone

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 must make sure that their Petone rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is also important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your 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. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Petone, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Petone rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Petone rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Petone Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Petone

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Petone

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

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Petone

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and 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 liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Petone

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to allow the home to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Petone Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Petone

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Petone include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Petone for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.