Healthy Homes Assessment Maupuia

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Maupuia rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be done and offer the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified to evaluate 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Maupuia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Maupuia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Maupuia, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Maupuia rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less costs of maintenance 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 Draught Control for Maupuia rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Maupuia Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maupuia

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Maupuia

Rental properties in Maupuia should have a permanent heating source which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it may require an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Maupuia

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements at least open to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Maupuia

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to the house to hold heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Maupuia 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’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maupuia

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standards in Maupuia include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maupuia for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.