Healthy Homes Assessment Karori

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 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 renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Karori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Karori, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Karori rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Start now and call about getting a Karori Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karori

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, 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 sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Karori

Karori rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 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 source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Karori

Each living space within a rental house must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be less difficult to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Karori

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make much easier for the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Karori Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karori

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Karori include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karori for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in the house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property home assessment.