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? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Maupuia 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 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 assess your rental property to 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 about any work required. needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Maupuia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Maupuia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

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?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Maupuia, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Maupuia rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Maupuia rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maupuia

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Maupuia

Maupuia rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will 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 acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should include a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as an air conditioner, it could need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Maupuia

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Maupuia

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make it easier for the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maupuia Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maupuia

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Maupuia include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maupuia for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.