Healthy Homes Assessment Porirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Porirua 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 fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required to complete 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 landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are 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, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Porirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

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

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Porirua, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Porirua rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Start now and call about getting a Porirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Porirua

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Porirua

Porirua rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might require an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Porirua

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Porirua

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Porirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Porirua include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Porirua for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.