Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Horokiwi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check 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 of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements 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 important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Horokiwi rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Horokiwi rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Horokiwi Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out of your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Horokiwi

Horokiwi rental properties should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it may need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air is easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

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

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Horokiwi

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task to the house to retain the heat.

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

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

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

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

Horokiwi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to 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 is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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 to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Horokiwi include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house evaluation.