Healthy Homes Assessment Te Marua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Te Marua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in 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 $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Te Marua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Te Marua, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Te Marua rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Te Marua rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Marua

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Te Marua

Rental properties in Te Marua require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Marua

Every living space of a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Te Marua

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Marua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Marua

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Te Marua include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Marua for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.