Healthy Homes Assessment Arakura

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 are now required to make sure their Arakura rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties 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 will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Arakura, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Arakura rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Arakura rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Arakura Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Arakura

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Arakura

Arakura rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during 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 heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Arakura

Every living space in a rental house must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside while remaining closed to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Arakura

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to allow the home to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Arakura Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Arakura

Rental property areas affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Arakura include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Arakura for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for when conducting an home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.