Healthy Homes Assessment Kaiwharawhara

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Kaiwharawhara rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

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

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Kaiwharawhara, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Kaiwharawhara rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Kaiwharawhara Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole that is, it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Rental properties in Kaiwharawhara need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Every living space of a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier for the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Kaiwharawhara include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property house assessment.