Healthy Homes Assessment Maupuia

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 that their Maupuia rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 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 and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be done, and provide the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified for 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Maupuia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Maupuia, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Maupuia rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Maupuia rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maupuia

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Maupuia

Maupuia rental properties need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it could require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maupuia

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Maupuia

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to allow the household to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

Maupuia Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps 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 Maupuia

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Maupuia include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maupuia for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.