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 July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Miramar 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 completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Miramar, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Miramar rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about getting a Miramar Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Miramar

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into the home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Miramar

Rental properties in Miramar need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the 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 the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Miramar

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Miramar

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement 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 – The rest 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Miramar Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Miramar

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Miramar include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Miramar for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• 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 an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.