Healthy Homes Assessment Bay View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Bay View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information 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 breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Bay View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Bay View, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Bay View rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Bay View rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Bay View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bay View

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Bay View

Bay View rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Bay View

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that dried air can be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Bay View

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier to the home to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the 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 underfloor R 1.3
• 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 standard.

Bay View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Bay View

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Bay View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bay View for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.