Healthy Homes Assessment Paparangi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Paparangi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 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 determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified for 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Paparangi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Paparangi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Paparangi, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Paparangi rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Paparangi rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Paparangi Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Paparangi

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within the house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Paparangi

Paparangi rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature 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 minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Paparangi

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Paparangi

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make an easier task to allow the household to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

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

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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Paparangi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Paparangi

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Paparangi include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Paparangi for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.