Healthy Homes Assessment Arakura

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Arakura rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property 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 the work required. needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is important to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Arakura, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Arakura rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Arakura

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Arakura

Arakura rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Arakura

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding that dried air can be more easy 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 considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Arakura

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make much easier for the house to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Arakura Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Arakura

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standard in Arakura include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Arakura for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for during a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.