Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

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? The landlords are now required to make sure their Tawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of details on 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 Tawa, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Tawa rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less 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 within Tawa rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Tawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Tawa

Tawa rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the living space to at least 18degC, even during 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 to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air is easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Tawa

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to the house to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

The areas of rental property that are affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Tawa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.