Healthy Homes Assessment Pauatahanui

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Pauatahanui rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely compliant 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 to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely qualified 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

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

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent the property in 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 generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Pauatahanui rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Pauatahanui rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Pauatahanui Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pauatahanui

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Pauatahanui

Rental properties in Pauatahanui need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it might need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pauatahanui

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Pauatahanui

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task for the home to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pauatahanui Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full 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 through The Healthy Homes Standards in Pauatahanui include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pauatahanui for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.