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 must make sure that their Kaiwharawhara rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely certified to assess 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

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

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Kaiwharawhara, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience at least four key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Kaiwharawhara rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building as the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Kaiwharawhara rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature 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) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must have an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might just require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat and heat, and 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 hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy for the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Kaiwharawhara

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kaiwharawhara include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.