Healthy Homes Assessment Karaka Bays

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 their Karaka Bays rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be done and offer the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely qualified to evaluate 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, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Karaka Bays rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Karaka Bays rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Karaka Bays, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Karaka Bays rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Karaka Bays rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Karaka Bays Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karaka Bays

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out from the house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the household warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect the 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 crucial for healthy houses

Heating Karaka Bays

Karaka Bays rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Karaka Bays

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air is more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Karaka Bays

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to the home to hold heat.

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

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

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Karaka Bays Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karaka Bays

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Karaka Bays include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karaka Bays for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check during the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties house assessment.