Healthy Homes Assessment Kaiwharawhara

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Kaiwharawhara rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your 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 a house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Kaiwharawhara, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Kaiwharawhara rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs over the long term.

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

Begin now by calling about receiving a Kaiwharawhara Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Kaiwharawhara rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Each living space within the rental property should 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 externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier for the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements 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 insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Kaiwharawhara include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over during an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.