Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely 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 assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be done, and offer the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of 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 up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6792

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an house evaluation 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?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Birchville, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Birchville rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Birchville rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Birchville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can 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 entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Birchville

Birchville rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it may require a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Birchville

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Birchville

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make much easier for the home to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Birchville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property house evaluation.