Healthy Homes Assessment Plimmerton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Plimmerton 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6793

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Plimmerton, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

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

Improve the quality of Plimmerton rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Plimmerton rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Plimmerton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Plimmerton

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

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

Heating Plimmerton

Plimmerton rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the 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 source, then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Plimmerton

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. Our 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 areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Plimmerton

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to the household to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Plimmerton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Plimmerton

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Plimmerton include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Plimmerton for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. 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 require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.