Healthy Homes Assessment Napier South

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Napier South 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Napier South rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Napier South rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other 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, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

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

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Napier South, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Napier South rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Napier South rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Napier South Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Draught Stopping Napier South

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A damp house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Heating Napier South

Napier South rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Napier South

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

Insulation Napier South

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Napier South Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

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

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Rental Property Home Assessments Napier South

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

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

Home Assessments Napier South for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for in the house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.