Healthy Homes Assessment Arakura

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Arakura rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and 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 significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Arakura, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Arakura rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Arakura rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Arakura Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Arakura

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

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Arakura

Arakura rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Arakura

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Arakura

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy to the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Arakura Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your 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 Arakura

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Arakura include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Arakura for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house evaluation.