Healthy Homes Assessment Pauatahanui

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Pauatahanui rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and offer the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Pauatahanui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

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

It’s crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Pauatahanui, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. 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.

Improving the standard of Pauatahanui rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Pauatahanui rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pauatahanui

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Pauatahanui

Pauatahanui rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate 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 aren’t considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pauatahanui

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Pauatahanui

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make more easy for the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pauatahanui Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

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

Learn more about 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 to The Healthy Homes Standard in Pauatahanui include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pauatahanui for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.