Healthy Homes Assessment Maymorn

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Maymorn rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant 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 assess your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Maymorn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Maymorn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

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

It is also crucial to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Maymorn, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Maymorn rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Maymorn rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Maymorn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maymorn

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A damp house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from your home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Maymorn

Rental properties in Maymorn should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it might require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maymorn

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air will be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Maymorn

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes more easy for the house to keep 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 insulation is able to resist 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 and floor 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Maymorn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maymorn

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Maymorn include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maymorn for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for during an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.