Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Horokiwi 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Horokiwi rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Horokiwi rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements 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 house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the household warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Horokiwi

Horokiwi rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

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

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dried air can be much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Horokiwi

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier to the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Horokiwi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Horokiwi

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Horokiwi include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.