Healthy Homes Assessment Papakowhai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Papakowhai 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 compliant by 1 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 check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Papakowhai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Papakowhai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all 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 isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an home assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Papakowhai, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Papakowhai rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Papakowhai rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Papakowhai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Papakowhai

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Papakowhai

Papakowhai rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can 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 recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

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

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Papakowhai

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Papakowhai

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make much easier to the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Papakowhai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Papakowhai

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Papakowhai include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Papakowhai for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.