Healthy Homes Assessment Karori

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? The landlords are now required to ensure their Karori rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully certified 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Karori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Karori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being 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 needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Karori, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the standard of Karori rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Karori rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Karori Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karori

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of your home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Karori

Rental properties in Karori must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Karori

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air is more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards 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 areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Karori

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to the home to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Karori Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karori

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Karori include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karori for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.