Healthy Homes Assessment Karori

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Karori 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 fully in compliance by July 1st 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 determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be completed and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate each of 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Karori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Karori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed for 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?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Karori, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Karori rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower 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, as well Draught-stopping on Karori rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Karori Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karori

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Karori

Karori rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Karori

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Karori

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make much easier to allow the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Karori Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karori

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Karori include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karori for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over in a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties house assessment.