Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

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? The landlords are now required 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 are required to 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 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 standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Maungaraki rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Maungaraki rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Maungaraki

Rental properties in Maungaraki need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors 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 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maungaraki

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

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

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Maungaraki

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier for the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs 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 more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place 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 prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing 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 Maungaraki

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standard in Maungaraki include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.