Healthy Homes Assessment Arakura

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Arakura rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified to evaluate each of 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 tenancy is signed for an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end 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 incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Arakura, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Arakura rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Arakura rental properties.

Start now and call about the Arakura Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Arakura

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Arakura

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

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Arakura

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Arakura

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the house to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Arakura Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent 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 to the Healthy Homes Standards in Arakura include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Arakura for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over in the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.