Healthy Homes Assessment Pauatahanui

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Pauatahanui rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in 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 healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, we 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Pauatahanui, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Pauatahanui rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control for Pauatahanui rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pauatahanui

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Pauatahanui

Pauatahanui rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pauatahanui

Each living space within a rental house must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Pauatahanui

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to allow the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pauatahanui Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pauatahanui

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Pauatahanui include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pauatahanui for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property house assessment.