Healthy Homes Assessment Kaiwharawhara

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Kaiwharawhara rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a house assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Kaiwharawhara, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

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 because of illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded 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 and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Kaiwharawhara rental properties.

Start now and call about the Kaiwharawhara Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kaiwharawhara

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it is most likely 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 of the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Kaiwharawhara

Rental properties in Kaiwharawhara require a reliable source of heat that can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature 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 in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kaiwharawhara

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Kaiwharawhara

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to current quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier for the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of 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 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kaiwharawhara Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing 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

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Kaiwharawhara include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kaiwharawhara for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.