Healthy Homes Assessment Timberlea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Timberlea 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 completely 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 to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Timberlea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Timberlea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Timberlea, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Timberlea rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Timberlea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Timberlea

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A cold home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Timberlea

Rental properties in Timberlea need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended 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) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Timberlea

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs at least to open to the outside, and stay closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Timberlea

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to allow the house to retain the 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 the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Timberlea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

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

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Timberlea

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standards in Timberlea include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Timberlea for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check during an house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.