Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Horokiwi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed and offer a report with all the details required 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 landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Horokiwi rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning 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 and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Horokiwi rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Horokiwi Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your house require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Horokiwi

Horokiwi rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Horokiwi

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Horokiwi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Horokiwi

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Horokiwi include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• 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 a Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home assessment.