Healthy Homes Assessment Arakura

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 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 completely certified by 1 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 requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Arakura, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Arakura rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Arakura rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Arakura

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Arakura

Rental properties in Arakura must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it may need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Arakura

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Arakura

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with 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 higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Arakura Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about 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 by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Arakura include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Arakura for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.