Healthy Homes Assessment Mayfair

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Mayfair rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely 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 check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Mayfair rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Mayfair rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and request an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Mayfair, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Mayfair rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Mayfair rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Mayfair Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mayfair

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Mayfair

Rental properties in Mayfair need to have a stable heating source that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must have the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it could require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mayfair

Each liveable space in a rental house must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Mayfair

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making much easier for the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• 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 floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mayfair Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mayfair

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standards in Mayfair include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mayfair for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.