Healthy Homes Assessment Kaiwharawhara

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Kaiwharawhara rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 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 check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an house assessment performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of the 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 Kaiwharawhara, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Kaiwharawhara rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Kaiwharawhara Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the building when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of 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 well-being homes

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Kaiwharawhara rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it might require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the home to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kaiwharawhara include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property home assessment.