Healthy Homes Assessment Makara Beach

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Makara Beach rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Makara Beach rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Makara Beach, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Makara Beach rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Makara Beach rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Makara Beach Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Makara Beach

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Makara Beach

Makara Beach rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Makara Beach

Every living space of a rental home must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Makara Beach

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to the home to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 standard.

Makara Beach Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Makara Beach

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Makara Beach include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Makara Beach for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.