Healthy Homes Assessment Havelock North Central

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Havelock North Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done and provide a report with 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 violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Havelock North Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a Havelock North Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Havelock North Central, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Havelock North Central rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Havelock North Central rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Havelock North Central Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Draught Stopping Havelock North Central

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Heating Havelock North Central

Havelock North Central rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as 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 offer is electric heating or heat pump, it requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Havelock North Central

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

Insulation Havelock North Central

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes more easy for the home to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Havelock North Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Rental Property Home Assessments Havelock North Central

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Havelock North Central include each:

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

Home Assessments Havelock North Central for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.