Healthy Homes Assessment Paremata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Paremata rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are 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’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information 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 who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to assess 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 new or renewed contract is signed on a Paremata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Paremata, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Paremata rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Paremata rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Paremata Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Paremata

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Paremata

Rental properties in Paremata must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Paremata

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that vent 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.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Paremata

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making much easier for the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Paremata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Paremata

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Paremata include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Paremata for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home evaluation.