Healthy Homes Assessment Kaiwharawhara

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 are now required to make sure their Kaiwharawhara rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to 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 can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to assess 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Kaiwharawhara, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Kaiwharawhara rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in 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 as Draught Stopping within Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Rental properties in Kaiwharawhara must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to the home to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps 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 Kaiwharawhara

The areas of rental property that are affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Kaiwharawhara include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.