Healthy Homes Assessment Strathmore Park

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 Strathmore Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Strathmore Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Strathmore Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house inspection 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?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Strathmore Park, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Strathmore Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Strathmore Park rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Strathmore Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Strathmore Park

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in our 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 healthy houses

Heating Strathmore Park

Strathmore Park rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Strathmore Park

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is less difficult to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, and stay closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Strathmore Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and will also make an easier task to the household to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Strathmore Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Strathmore Park

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Strathmore Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Strathmore Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check in a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.