Healthy Homes Assessment Longlands

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Longlands rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals 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 evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

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

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Longlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Longlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $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 the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a home assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Longlands, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Longlands rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Longlands rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Longlands

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of the home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Longlands

Rental properties in Longlands must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 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 health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as the heat pump, it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Longlands

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Longlands

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to the house to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Longlands Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Longlands

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standards in Longlands include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Longlands for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental properties home evaluation.