Healthy Homes Assessment Te Marua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required 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 rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under 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 $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Te Marua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Te Marua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to remember that a landlord who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Te Marua, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Te Marua rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Te Marua rental properties.

Start now and call about the Te Marua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Marua

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Te Marua

Rental properties in Te Marua should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Marua

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards 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 areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Te Marua

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier for the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Marua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Marua

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Te Marua include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Marua for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties house assessment.