Healthy Homes Assessment Pinehaven

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 make sure that their Pinehaven rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully 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 your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Pinehaven rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Pinehaven rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Pinehaven, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the quality of Pinehaven rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Pinehaven rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pinehaven

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Pinehaven

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

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source such as an air conditioner, it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pinehaven

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Pinehaven

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes it easier for the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pinehaven Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pinehaven

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Pinehaven include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pinehaven for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house assessment.