Healthy Homes Assessment St Leonards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their St Leonards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the 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 necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

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Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a St Leonards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and St Leonards, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

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

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for St Leonards rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a St Leonards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping St Leonards

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out of the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating St Leonards

Rental properties in St Leonards should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the main or largest 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 well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. 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 certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation St Leonards

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or skylight requirements at least to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation St Leonards

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make it easier for the home to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

St Leonards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just 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 is frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments St Leonards

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in St Leonards include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments St Leonards for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.