Healthy Homes Assessment Titahi Bay

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 Titahi Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely 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 whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that 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 meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate each of 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 have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Titahi Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Titahi Bay, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Titahi Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be 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 as Draught Control for Titahi Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Titahi Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Titahi Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Titahi Bay

Rental properties in Titahi Bay need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in 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 permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it could need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Titahi Bay

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising that dried air can be much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Titahi Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy to allow the home to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Titahi Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Titahi Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Titahi Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Titahi Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.