Healthy Homes Assessment Fernhill

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 are now required to make sure their Fernhill rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be done and provide the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Fernhill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Fernhill, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Fernhill rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Fernhill rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Fernhill Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Fernhill

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the building when the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Fernhill

Rental properties in Fernhill need to have a stable heating source that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it may need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Fernhill

Every living space of a rental house must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Fernhill

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy for the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Fernhill Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm 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 structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Fernhill

Rental property areas affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Fernhill include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Fernhill for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.