Healthy Homes Assessment Camberley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Camberley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess each of 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 brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Camberley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Camberley, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Camberley rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Start now and call about the Camberley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Camberley

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole that is, it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Camberley

Rental properties in Camberley need to have a stable heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Camberley

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Camberley

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes more easy for the household to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, 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

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

Camberley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, 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.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Camberley

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Camberley include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Camberley for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.