Healthy Homes Assessment Pipitea

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? Landlords are now required to make sure their Pipitea 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request an home assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Pipitea rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Pipitea rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Pipitea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being houses

Heating Pipitea

Pipitea rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like a heat pump, then it might need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pipitea

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dry air will be easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Pipitea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy for the household to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for 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 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full 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 with The Healthy Homes Standards in Pipitea include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.