Healthy Homes Assessment Maoribank

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Maoribank rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 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 to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be done and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’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 any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Maoribank rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Maoribank rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Maoribank, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Maoribank rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Maoribank rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Maoribank Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maoribank

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Maoribank

Maoribank rental properties must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the main or largest 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 as well as their mental health.

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

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it may require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Maoribank

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Maoribank

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and it will make it easier for the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure 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 of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Maoribank Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maoribank

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Maoribank include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maoribank for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.