Healthy Homes Assessment Maymorn

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Maymorn rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified to evaluate 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Maymorn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Maymorn, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Maymorn rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Maymorn rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Maymorn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maymorn

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Maymorn

Maymorn rental properties should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maymorn

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Maymorn

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make it easier for the house to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Maymorn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure 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 typically not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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

The areas of rental property that are affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Maymorn include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maymorn for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.