Healthy Homes Assessment Totara Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Totara Park 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified for 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Totara Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Totara Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Totara Park, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Totara Park rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Totara Park rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Totara Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Totara Park

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Totara Park

Totara Park rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. 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 needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

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

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it could need a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Totara Park

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Totara Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to the household to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Totara Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Totara Park

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Totara Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Totara Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.