Healthy Homes Assessment Pipitea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be completed and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to note that landlords who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Pipitea, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Pipitea rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Pipitea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Pipitea

Rental properties in Pipitea should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it could require an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Pipitea

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Pipitea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to the household to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete 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 to The Healthy Homes Standard in Pipitea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.