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? The landlords are now required to ensure their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate 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 that requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be 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 and are completely certified for 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Pipitea rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Pipitea rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Pipitea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Pipitea

Rental properties in Pipitea should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should include a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it could require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pipitea

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Pipitea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of 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 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Pipitea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house assessment.