Healthy Homes Assessment Frasertown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Frasertown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that 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 comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified for 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Frasertown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Frasertown, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Frasertown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Frasertown rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Frasertown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Frasertown

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from your home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Frasertown

Rental properties in Frasertown require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it might require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Frasertown

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Frasertown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to the household to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands 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 – The rest 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Frasertown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Frasertown

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Frasertown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Frasertown for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property home assessment.