Healthy Homes Assessment Miramar

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure 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 rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified for 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting 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 needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Miramar, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Miramar rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Miramar rental properties.

Start now and call about the Miramar Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Miramar

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into your home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Miramar

Rental properties in Miramar need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the 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 the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as 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 might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Miramar

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Miramar

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Miramar Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Miramar

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Miramar include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Miramar for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• 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 an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.