Healthy Homes Assessment Pinehaven

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Pinehaven rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to evaluate both 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Pinehaven rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Pinehaven rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

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

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Pinehaven, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Pinehaven rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Pinehaven rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pinehaven

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into the home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Pinehaven

Rental properties in Pinehaven require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll 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 The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pinehaven

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Pinehaven

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the home to keep the heat.

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

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pinehaven Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pinehaven

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standard 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 be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.