Healthy Homes Assessment Paparangi

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 their Paparangi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Paparangi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Paparangi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Paparangi, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Paparangi rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

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

Begin now by calling about having a Paparangi Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Paparangi

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A cold house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Paparangi

Paparangi rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Paparangi

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising that dried air can be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Paparangi

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands 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 – all part of 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Paparangi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Paparangi

Rental property areas affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Paparangi include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Paparangi for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.