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 rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st 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 of the tasks that requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified to evaluate 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Tawa, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Tawa rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Tawa rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Tawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Tawa

Tawa rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dried air can be less difficult to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Tawa

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to allow the household to hold warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of 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 inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

The areas of rental property that are affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Tawa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, 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 an tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.