Healthy Homes Assessment Flaxmere

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 their Flaxmere rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Flaxmere rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Flaxmere rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within 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 included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest 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 even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Flaxmere, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the standard of Flaxmere rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Flaxmere rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Flaxmere Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Flaxmere

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out from your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors 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 important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Flaxmere

Rental properties in Flaxmere must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Flaxmere

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Flaxmere

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier for the home to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Flaxmere Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Flaxmere

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Flaxmere include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Flaxmere for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough 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 The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties house assessment.