Healthy Homes Assessment Titahi Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Titahi Bay 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 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 your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work that needs 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 breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Titahi Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Titahi Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Titahi Bay, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Titahi Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Titahi Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Titahi Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Titahi Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details 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 need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living space 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 wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Titahi Bay

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Titahi Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Titahi Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected 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 surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent 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 Titahi Bay

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Titahi Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Titahi Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.