Healthy Homes Assessment Maoribank

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? Landlords must make sure 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Maoribank rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and 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 whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Maoribank, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Maoribank rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Get started now and contact us about having a Maoribank Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maoribank

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Maoribank

Maoribank rental properties need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Maoribank

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Maoribank

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make it easier to the house to hold heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maoribank Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maoribank

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Maoribank include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maoribank for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.