Healthy Homes Assessment Bluff Hill

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Bluff Hill rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to 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 will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

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

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Bluff Hill, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Bluff Hill rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Bluff Hill rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Bluff Hill Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bluff Hill

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 or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Bluff Hill

Bluff Hill rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may need some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Bluff Hill

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air is less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Bluff Hill

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the home to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

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

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

Bluff Hill Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor 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 Bluff Hill

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Bluff Hill include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bluff Hill for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.