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 must ensure their Kaiwharawhara rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Kaiwharawhara, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Kaiwharawhara rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs 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 for Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Kaiwharawhara rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it might require an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. 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 requirements.

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to allow the household to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the 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

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.