Healthy Homes Assessment Pinehaven

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Pinehaven rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation 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 violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6792

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Pinehaven rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Pinehaven rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of 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 who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that landlords with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Pinehaven, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Pinehaven rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Pinehaven rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Pinehaven Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pinehaven

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within the house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Pinehaven

Rental properties in Pinehaven must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it might need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pinehaven

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Pinehaven

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task for the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand 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 – the remainder area of 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pinehaven Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pinehaven

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pinehaven for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.