Healthy Homes Assessment Te Marua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Te Marua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Te Marua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Te Marua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Te Marua, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Te Marua rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs over 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 as Draught Stopping in Te Marua rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Te Marua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Marua

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Te Marua

Rental properties in Te Marua need to have a stable heating source which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Te Marua

Every living space of a rental property must include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Te Marua

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make it easier for the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor 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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Marua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Marua

The areas of rental property that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Te Marua include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Marua for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home 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 being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.