Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Maungaraki rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to assess 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Maungaraki rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Maungaraki rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Maungaraki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty house costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

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

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Maungaraki

Rental properties in Maungaraki should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. 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 that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Maungaraki

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property 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 are not considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Maungaraki

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to allow the home to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent 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 Maungaraki

Property rental areas that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Maungaraki include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.