Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess both 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 contract is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and request a house assessment performed on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Horokiwi rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control for Horokiwi rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Horokiwi Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Horokiwi

Rental properties in Horokiwi should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to include the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it could need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Horokiwi

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy for the household to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

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; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the 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 to The Healthy Homes Standard in Horokiwi include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental properties home assessment.