Healthy Homes Assessment Jervoistown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Jervoistown 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 fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Jervoistown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Jervoistown, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Jervoistown rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance 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 Draught Control for Jervoistown rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Jervoistown

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Jervoistown

Rental properties in Jervoistown must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Jervoistown

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Jervoistown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Jervoistown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing 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 Jervoistown

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Jervoistown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Jervoistown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• 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 the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.