Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Tawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement 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 home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Tawa, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Tawa rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Tawa rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Tawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Tawa

Rental properties in Tawa should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Tawa

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

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

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Tawa

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Tawa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties house assessment.