Healthy Homes Assessment Moera

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Moera rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be 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 property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Moera, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Moera rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Moera rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Moera

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Moera

Rental properties in Moera require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Moera

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that dried air can be easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Moera

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to allow the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Moera Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Moera

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Moera include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Moera for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.