Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Tawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified for 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract 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 a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Tawa, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Tawa rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Tawa rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Tawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into your home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Tawa

Rental properties in Tawa need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be 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 permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Tawa

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Tawa

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making an easier task to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of 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 through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Tawa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.