Healthy Homes Assessment Arakura

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? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Arakura rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 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 determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

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 on an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Arakura, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Arakura rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Arakura rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Arakura Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Arakura

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Arakura

Rental properties in Arakura need to have a stable source of heat which 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 that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Arakura

Every living space of a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Arakura

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy for the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Arakura Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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 Arakura

Property rental areas that are affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Arakura include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Arakura for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.