Healthy Homes Assessment Riverstone Terraces

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Riverstone Terraces rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant 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 determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Riverstone Terraces, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Riverstone Terraces rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Riverstone Terraces rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Riverstone Terraces Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Riverstone Terraces

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack 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 into or out into the house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Riverstone Terraces

Rental properties in Riverstone Terraces need to have a stable heating source which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Riverstone Terraces

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Riverstone Terraces

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes it easier for the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Riverstone Terraces Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

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

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Riverstone Terraces include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property home assessment.