Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Horokiwi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must 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 assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Horokiwi rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Horokiwi rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors 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 for healthy homes

Heating Horokiwi

Rental properties in Horokiwi require a reliable heating source that can warm the main or largest 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 as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to include a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The 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 to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Horokiwi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Horokiwi include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.