Healthy Homes Assessment Moera

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Moera rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation 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 fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Moera, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Moera rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

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

Contact us now to discuss the Moera Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Moera

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A humid home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Moera

Rental properties in Moera require a reliable source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to include the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it may need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Moera

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising how dry air will be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Moera

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Moera Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Moera

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Moera include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Moera for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.