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? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Maungaraki rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, 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 reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Maungaraki rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Maungaraki rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Maungaraki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from the house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Maungaraki

Maungaraki rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Maungaraki

Each liveable space in a rental home must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air is much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Maungaraki

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to allow the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maungaraki

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

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.