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 must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to evaluate 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Horokiwi rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out of 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. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Horokiwi

Rental properties in Horokiwi require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as 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 it should include the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it could need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Horokiwi

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater 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 rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the 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

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about 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 with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Horokiwi include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.