Healthy Homes Assessment Camborne

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 Camborne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6793

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 Camborne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request a home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Camborne, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Camborne rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Begin now by calling about having a Camborne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Camborne

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large 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 or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Camborne

Camborne rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it may require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Camborne

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Camborne

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to the household to hold the heat.

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

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Camborne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

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

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Camborne

Property rental areas that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Camborne include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Camborne for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over in the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• 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 repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.