Healthy Homes Assessment Taita

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? The landlords are now required to make sure their Taita rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas 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 standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of 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

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Taita rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a Taita rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Taita, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Taita rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Taita rental properties.

Start now and call about the Taita Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Taita

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows in 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 well-being houses

Heating Taita

Taita rental properties require a reliable heating source that can heat the main or largest living space 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 heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Taita

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Taita

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy for the household to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Taita Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Taita

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Taita include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Taita for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for during an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.