Healthy Homes Assessment Silverstream

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Silverstream rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified 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 evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to evaluate 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Silverstream rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Silverstream rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment done 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?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Silverstream, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Silverstream rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Silverstream rental properties.

Start now and call about the Silverstream Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Silverstream

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Silverstream

Rental properties in Silverstream need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the living space to at least 18degC, even during the most 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 requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it may need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Silverstream

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow 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 liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Silverstream

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Silverstream Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

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

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Silverstream

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Silverstream include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Silverstream for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property home assessment.