Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be done and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6792

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Birchville, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Birchville rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Birchville rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Birchville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Birchville

Birchville rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it may need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Birchville

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Birchville

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standards in Birchville include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental property home assessment.