Healthy Homes Assessment Hospital Hill

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Hospital Hill rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely 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 evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done and offer a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Hospital Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Hospital Hill rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and request a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Hospital Hill, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the standard of Hospital Hill rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Hospital Hill rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Hospital Hill Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hospital Hill

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Hospital Hill

Rental properties in Hospital Hill need to have a stable heating source which can warm the living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should have the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it could require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hospital Hill

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air is much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Hospital Hill

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to the house to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Hospital Hill Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

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

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hospital Hill

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Hospital Hill include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hospital Hill for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.