Healthy Homes Assessment Pipitea

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? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Pipitea rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Pipitea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Pipitea

Pipitea rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it might just need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Pipitea

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Pipitea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier to the house to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pipitea

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Pipitea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home evaluation.