Healthy Homes Assessment Korokoro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to assess each of 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be 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 property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and request an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Korokoro, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Korokoro rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Korokoro rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Korokoro

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large 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 is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Korokoro

Korokoro rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Korokoro

Every living space in a rental house must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Korokoro

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

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

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 quality.

Korokoro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Korokoro

Rental property areas affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Korokoro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Korokoro for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.