Healthy Homes Assessment Taita

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Taita rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties 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 can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Taita rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Taita, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Taita rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Taita rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Taita Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Taita

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable 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 crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Taita

Taita rental properties must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it could need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Taita

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one openable door or window to offer 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 it is that dried air can be easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Taita

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make an easier task to allow the house to retain warmth.

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

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

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Taita Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when 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 present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Taita

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Taita include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Taita for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for during the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.