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 in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Brown Owl rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant 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 whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6792

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Brown Owl rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Brown Owl rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may 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 property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request a home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Brown Owl, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Brown Owl rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance 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 in Brown Owl rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Brown Owl

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Brown Owl

Brown Owl rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it could require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Brown Owl

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Brown Owl

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. 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 will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Brown Owl Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Brown Owl

Rental property areas affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Brown Owl include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• 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 assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.