Healthy Homes Assessment Taradale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Taradale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

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 Taradale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Taradale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Taradale, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Taradale rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Taradale rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Taradale

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building as the home heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Taradale

Rental properties in Taradale need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Taradale

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Taradale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Taradale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Taradale

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Taradale for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.