Healthy Homes Assessment Horokiwi

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Horokiwi rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal 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 assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified for each of 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Horokiwi rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may 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 landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Horokiwi, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Horokiwi rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Horokiwi rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Horokiwi

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A cold home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from your home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building when the home warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for well-being houses

Heating Horokiwi

Horokiwi rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need 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 safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Horokiwi

Every living space of a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Horokiwi

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task to allow the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of 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 floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Horokiwi Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Horokiwi include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Horokiwi for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.