Healthy Homes Assessment Brown Owl

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 must ensure their Brown Owl rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully 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 and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate both 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 new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Brown Owl rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Brown Owl rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

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

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and request an house inspection performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Brown Owl, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Brown Owl rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Brown Owl rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Brown Owl Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Brown Owl

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Brown Owl

Rental properties in Brown Owl need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

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

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

Ventilation Brown Owl

Each liveable space in a rental home must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding that dry air is easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Brown Owl

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Brown Owl Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Brown Owl

Property rental areas that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Brown Owl include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Brown Owl for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.