Healthy Homes Assessment Timberlea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Timberlea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to 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 can evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Timberlea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Timberlea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an home inspection performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. 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 Timberlea, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Timberlea rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Timberlea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Timberlea

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

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Timberlea

Rental properties in Timberlea require a reliable heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Timberlea

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air will be more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Timberlea

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

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

Timberlea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Timberlea

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Timberlea include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Timberlea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home assessment.