Healthy Homes Assessment Eskdale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any 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 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 Eskdale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for an Eskdale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Eskdale, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Eskdale rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Eskdale rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Eskdale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Eskdale

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A humid house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Eskdale

Rental properties in Eskdale require a reliable heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Eskdale

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Eskdale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to allow the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Eskdale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Eskdale

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Eskdale include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Eskdale for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.