Healthy Homes Assessment Petone

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Petone rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully certified for both 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 for a Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Petone rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Petone, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the quality of Petone rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Petone rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Petone Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Petone

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Petone

Petone rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the largest or main living space 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 well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it may require an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Petone

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, and stay closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Petone

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make an easier task for the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about 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 but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location 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 the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Petone

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Petone include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Petone for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over when conducting an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.