Healthy Homes Assessment Bay View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Bay View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. 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 matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Bay View, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Bay View rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Bay View rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Bay View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bay View

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Bay View

Rental properties in Bay View need to have a stable heating source that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to have the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Bay View

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Bay View

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Bay View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Bay View

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Bay View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bay View for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.