Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Horokiwi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be done and offer 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 breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Horokiwi rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Horokiwi rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Horokiwi Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the household warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Horokiwi

Horokiwi rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it needs to have a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might require some additional energy to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Horokiwi

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Horokiwi

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes more easy for the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Horokiwi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Horokiwi

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Horokiwi include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over when conducting the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.