Healthy Homes Assessment Pauatahanui

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Pauatahanui rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done and provide a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Pauatahanui, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Pauatahanui rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in 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 Control on Pauatahanui rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pauatahanui

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Pauatahanui

Rental properties in Pauatahanui need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to at least 18degC, even during 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 outlook.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as the heat pump, it may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pauatahanui

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Pauatahanui

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes it easier to allow the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of 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 efficient the insulation.

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

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

Pauatahanui Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pauatahanui

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Pauatahanui include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pauatahanui for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house assessment.