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 of July 2021? Landlords must make sure 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Parkvale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Parkvale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Parkvale, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the standard of Parkvale rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Parkvale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Parkvale

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Parkvale

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

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as the heat pump, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Parkvale

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to 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 considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Parkvale

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

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

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

Parkvale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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 with the Healthy Homes Standards in Parkvale include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Parkvale for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.