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 the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully compliant 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 assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under 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 $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

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

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

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Bay View, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Bay View rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Bay View rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Bay View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bay View

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is 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 coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Bay View

Bay View rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source like heat pumps, it may need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Bay View

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Bay View

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task for the house to hold warmth.

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 greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Bay View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Bay View

Property rental areas that are affected by The 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 things to check in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house assessment.