Healthy Homes Assessment Takapuwahia

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? Landlords must ensure that their Takapuwahia rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Takapuwahia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Takapuwahia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy 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 up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Takapuwahia, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Takapuwahia rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Takapuwahia rental properties.

Start now and call about the Takapuwahia Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Takapuwahia

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Takapuwahia

Rental properties in Takapuwahia require a reliable source of heating that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, 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 wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it might just require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Takapuwahia

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Takapuwahia

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy to the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, 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 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Takapuwahia Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Takapuwahia

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standard in Takapuwahia include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Takapuwahia for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.