Healthy Homes Assessment Pukerua Bay

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 are now required to make sure their Pukerua Bay 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 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 can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. needs to be completed, and provide a 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 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 relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Pukerua Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Pukerua Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

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

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Pukerua Bay, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Pukerua Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Pukerua Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Pukerua Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pukerua Bay

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Pukerua Bay

Pukerua Bay rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 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 as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it needs to have the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Pukerua Bay

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air will be less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Pukerua Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the house to hold warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pukerua Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pukerua Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Pukerua Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pukerua Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.