Healthy Homes Assessment Roys Hill

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Roys Hill rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to 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 will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be done, and offer the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Roys Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Roys Hill, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Roys Hill rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Roys Hill rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Roys Hill Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Roys Hill

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Roys Hill

Rental properties in Roys Hill must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in 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 check if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just require an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Roys Hill

Each living space within a rental house must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Roys Hill

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Roys Hill Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Roys Hill

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Roys Hill include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Roys Hill for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.