Healthy Homes Assessment Camberley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under 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 healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified for 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Camberley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a Camberley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

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

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact 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 from New Zealand and Camberley, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Camberley rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Camberley rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Camberley

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Camberley

Camberley rental properties need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Camberley

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Camberley

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Camberley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

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

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Camberley

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Camberley include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Camberley for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.