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 ensure their Bluff Hill 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 covered in 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 standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate both 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 a Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Bluff Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it 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 contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Bluff Hill, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the quality of Bluff Hill rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Bluff Hill rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Bluff Hill Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Bluff Hill

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

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 or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building as the house warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Bluff Hill

Bluff Hill rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Bluff Hill

Every living space of a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how dried air can be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Bluff Hill

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make it easier to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 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, underfloor 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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Bluff Hill 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; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your 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 Bluff Hill

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Bluff Hill include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Bluff Hill for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.