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 are now required to 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 are required to 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 assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

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

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Kaiwharawhara rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for well-being houses

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Kaiwharawhara rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make it easier for the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective 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 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Kaiwharawhara include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.