Healthy Homes Assessment Miramar

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 now have to ensure their Miramar rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 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 check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties we 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

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Miramar, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Miramar rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Miramar rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Miramar Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Miramar

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into the house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Miramar

Miramar rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Miramar

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Miramar

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Miramar Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Miramar

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Miramar include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Miramar for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.