Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

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 must make sure their Horokiwi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 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 check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease 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 Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Horokiwi rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Horokiwi rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Horokiwi

Rental properties in Horokiwi need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat 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 requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to have an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it may need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air is easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Horokiwi

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Horokiwi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

Property rental areas that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Horokiwi include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house assessment.