Healthy Homes Assessment Anderson Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Anderson Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must 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 will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be done and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Anderson Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Anderson Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Anderson Park, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Anderson Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower 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, as well Draught stopping on Anderson Park rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Anderson Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Anderson Park

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

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

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

Heating Anderson Park

Rental properties in Anderson Park need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 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 and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should 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 certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Anderson Park

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to 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 areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Anderson Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make it easier to the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Anderson Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able 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 your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. 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 Anderson Park

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Anderson Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Anderson Park for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.