Healthy Homes Assessment Parkvale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Parkvale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 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 determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess both 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 tasks must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Parkvale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person 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 needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Parkvale, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Parkvale rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Parkvale rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Parkvale

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of your home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Parkvale

Parkvale rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Parkvale

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Parkvale

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to the house to hold warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Parkvale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Parkvale

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards 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 things to look over during the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.