Healthy Homes Assessment Kaiwharawhara

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 ensure that 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 rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in 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 relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified to assess 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 for a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and request an home inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Kaiwharawhara, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Kaiwharawhara rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A damp house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the home warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Rental properties in Kaiwharawhara need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, 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 as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task for the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands 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 rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the 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 through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Kaiwharawhara include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.