Healthy Homes Assessment Pauatahanui

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Pauatahanui rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

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 on a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Pauatahanui, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Pauatahanui rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of 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-stopping in Pauatahanui rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Pauatahanui Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pauatahanui

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building as the household warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Pauatahanui

Rental properties in Pauatahanui should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, 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 well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to include a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pauatahanui

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Pauatahanui

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make it easier for the home to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pauatahanui Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. 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

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Pauatahanui include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pauatahanui for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.