Healthy Homes Assessment Anderson Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Anderson Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to 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 evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. needs to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in 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 $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to assess 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Anderson Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on an Anderson Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties 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 could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Anderson Park, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the quality of Anderson Park rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , 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 and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Anderson Park rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Anderson Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Anderson Park

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it’s likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within your home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the household warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Anderson Park

Rental properties in Anderson Park should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Anderson Park

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside, but remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Anderson Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to allow the home to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Anderson Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure 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 usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Anderson Park

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Anderson Park include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Anderson Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check during a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property house evaluation.