Healthy Homes Assessment Taita

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 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 rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 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 standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be completed and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with 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 $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Taita rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Taita rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Taita, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Taita rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Taita rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Taita Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Taita

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Taita

Rental properties in Taita must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Taita

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising that dried air can be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Taita

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task to the home to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Taita Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent 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 Taita

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Taita include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Taita for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.