Healthy Homes Assessment Pauatahanui

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Pauatahanui rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals 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 can assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified to evaluate 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Pauatahanui, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Pauatahanui rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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 within Pauatahanui rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Pauatahanui Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pauatahanui

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from the house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being houses

Heating Pauatahanui

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

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient 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 are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Pauatahanui

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least 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.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Pauatahanui

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to allow the household to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with 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 higher the R-value, the better 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 and 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

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

Pauatahanui Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of 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 by The Healthy Homes Standards in Pauatahanui include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pauatahanui for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check in a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.