Healthy Homes Assessment Maupuia

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 must ensure their Maupuia rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed 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 any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Maupuia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Maupuia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with the 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 put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for 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 in New Zealand and Maupuia, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Maupuia rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Maupuia rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Maupuia Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maupuia

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into the home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no require 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 movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Maupuia

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

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it may need a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maupuia

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Maupuia

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task for the house to hold the heat.

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

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

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maupuia Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maupuia

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Maupuia include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maupuia for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, 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 an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.