Healthy Homes Assessment Karori

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Karori rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Karori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large 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 house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Karori, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Karori rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Karori rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Karori Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karori

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Karori

Karori rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Karori

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Karori

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier for the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater 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 area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Karori Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. 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 Karori

The areas of rental property that are affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Karori include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karori for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting an home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.