Healthy Homes Assessment Parkvale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Parkvale 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Parkvale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Parkvale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also important to note that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Parkvale, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Parkvale rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control within Parkvale rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Parkvale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Parkvale

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Parkvale

Rental properties in Parkvale should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it needs to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just need a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Parkvale

Each liveable space in a rental home must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

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

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Parkvale

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier to allow the home to hold warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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.

Parkvale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Parkvale

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Parkvale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Parkvale for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.