Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Horokiwi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified to evaluate 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 tenancy is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Horokiwi rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on Horokiwi rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Horokiwi

Horokiwi rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in 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 the existing 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 aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that 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 effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open 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 eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Horokiwi

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Horokiwi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Horokiwi

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Horokiwi include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, 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 an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.