Healthy Homes Assessment Broadmeadows

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 Broadmeadows rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Broadmeadows rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Broadmeadows rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Broadmeadows, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Broadmeadows rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Broadmeadows rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Broadmeadows Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Broadmeadows

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Broadmeadows

Broadmeadows rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it may need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Broadmeadows

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Broadmeadows

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy to allow the household to retain the heat.

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 the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

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

Broadmeadows Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Broadmeadows

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standard in Broadmeadows include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Broadmeadows for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.