Healthy Homes Assessment Hataitai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Hataitai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Hataitai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Hataitai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Hataitai, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Hataitai rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Hataitai rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hataitai

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Hataitai

Hataitai rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in 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 reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Hataitai

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

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

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Hataitai

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Hataitai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into 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

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Hataitai include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hataitai for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.