Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Alicetown 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on the Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Alicetown, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Alicetown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Alicetown rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the home warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Alicetown

Rental properties in Alicetown should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be 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 for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to have the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it could require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Alicetown

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Alicetown

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make more easy for the house to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Alicetown

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Alicetown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.