Healthy Homes Assessment Karaka Bays

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Karaka Bays rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Karaka Bays rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet 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 incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Karaka Bays, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Karaka Bays rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Karaka Bays rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Karaka Bays Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karaka Bays

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into your house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Karaka Bays

Rental properties in Karaka Bays should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Karaka Bays

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Karaka Bays

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to allow the home to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Karaka Bays Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karaka Bays

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Karaka Bays include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karaka Bays for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over in a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.