Healthy Homes Assessment Miramar

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Miramar rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate 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 Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Miramar, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Miramar rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Miramar rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Miramar Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Miramar

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building when the household warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Miramar

Rental properties in Miramar require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. 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 meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, 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 might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Miramar

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside and remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Miramar

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task for the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the 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, 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Miramar Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Miramar

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standard in Miramar include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Miramar for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

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