Healthy Homes Assessment Pipitea

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 Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified for both 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 for a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Pipitea rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Pipitea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A cold home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it is probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t 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 the movement of the building as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Pipitea

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

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pipitea

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Pipitea

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

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to the house to hold heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pipitea

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Pipitea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.