Healthy Homes Assessment Moera

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Moera rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by 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. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified for 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

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

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Moera rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Moera

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within the house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Moera

Moera rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just need an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Moera

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property 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 hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside and remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Moera

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier to the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Moera Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Moera

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Moera include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Moera for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.