Healthy Homes Assessment Porirua

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? Landlords must make sure that their Porirua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done and offer the report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach 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 relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Porirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement 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 live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Porirua, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Porirua rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Porirua rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Porirua

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within your home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Porirua

Rental properties in Porirua need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it could require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Porirua

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising that dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Porirua

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to the house to hold warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Porirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Porirua

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Porirua include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Porirua for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.