Healthy Homes Assessment Parkvale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Parkvale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate 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 of any work which needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Parkvale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Parkvale, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Parkvale rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Parkvale rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Parkvale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Parkvale

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Parkvale

Rental properties in Parkvale require a reliable source of heating which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it could require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve 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 living space within a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Parkvale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy for the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Parkvale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Parkvale

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Parkvale include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Parkvale for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property house evaluation.