Healthy Homes Assessment Porirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Porirua 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 fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, and 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Porirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request a house assessment performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Porirua, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the standard of Porirua rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Porirua rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Porirua

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Porirua

Porirua rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Porirua

Every living space of a rental property must include at least one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Porirua

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier for the home to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Porirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Porirua

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Porirua include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Porirua for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with 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?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental properties house assessment.