Healthy Homes Assessment Hataitai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Hataitai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Hataitai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Hataitai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Hataitai, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Hataitai rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Hataitai rental properties.

Start now and call about the Hataitai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hataitai

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into your home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Hataitai

Hataitai rental properties must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living space 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 well-being.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it could need an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hataitai

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air will be much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Hataitai

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to the house to hold heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Hataitai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hataitai

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standards in Hataitai include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hataitai for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.