Healthy Homes Assessment Karaka Bays

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Karaka Bays rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to evaluate 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Karaka Bays rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in 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 landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Karaka Bays, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the quality of Karaka Bays rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karaka Bays

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for well-being houses

Heating Karaka Bays

Karaka Bays rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could require an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Karaka Bays

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dried air can be less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Karaka Bays

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making it easier to the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Karaka Bays Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

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

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karaka Bays

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Karaka Bays include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karaka Bays for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over in the house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.