Healthy Homes Assessment Makara Beach

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Makara Beach rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties 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 will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Makara Beach rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Makara Beach rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Makara Beach, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Makara Beach rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Makara Beach rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Makara Beach

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Makara Beach

Rental properties in Makara Beach require a reliable heating source which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Makara Beach

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Makara Beach

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes more easy for the home to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Makara Beach Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Makara Beach

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Makara Beach include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Makara Beach for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check during a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.