Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

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 ensure that their Tawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes 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 under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely 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, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to be aware that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Tawa, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Tawa rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Tawa rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Tawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within your house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Tawa

Tawa rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, 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 such as heat pumps, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising how dried air can be easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Tawa

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier for the home to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Tawa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.