Healthy Homes Assessment Kaiwharawhara

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Kaiwharawhara rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Kaiwharawhara, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Kaiwharawhara rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

Start now and call about having 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 homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Kaiwharawhara rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should have the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least to open up to the outside while remaining closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the 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 with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Kaiwharawhara include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home assessment.