Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Maungaraki rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting 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 when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the standard of Maungaraki rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Maungaraki rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home warms and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Maungaraki

Maungaraki rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it may need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Maungaraki

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that dried air can be less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside and remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Maungaraki

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes it easier to the home to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

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

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed 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 The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maungaraki

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Maungaraki include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over during the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.