Healthy Homes Assessment Paremata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Paremata rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any 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 can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified for both 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 new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Paremata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Paremata, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Paremata rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Paremata rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Paremata

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Paremata

Rental properties in Paremata require a reliable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Paremata

Each living space within a rental house must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Paremata

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Paremata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Paremata

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Paremata include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Paremata for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over in a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home evaluation.