Healthy Homes Assessment Arakura

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Arakura rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed 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 determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be done and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to evaluate 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord with several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Arakura, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Arakura rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Arakura rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Arakura Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Arakura

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in our 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 to ensure healthy houses

Heating Arakura

Arakura rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Arakura

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Arakura

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Arakura Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Arakura

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Arakura include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Arakura for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home assessment.