Healthy Homes Assessment Titahi Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Titahi Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely qualified to assess 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Titahi Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Titahi Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Titahi Bay, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Titahi Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Titahi Bay rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Titahi Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Titahi Bay

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building as the home warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Titahi Bay

Rental properties in Titahi Bay should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether 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 mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must have a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it may require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Titahi Bay

Every living space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs at least open to the outside, but remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Titahi Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to allow the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Titahi Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Titahi Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Titahi Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Titahi Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in a home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties home assessment.