Healthy Homes Assessment Karaka Bays

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Karaka Bays rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to assess 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Karaka Bays rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Karaka Bays rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Karaka Bays, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the standard of Karaka Bays rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Karaka Bays rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Karaka Bays Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karaka Bays

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into your home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Karaka Bays

Rental properties in Karaka Bays need to have a stable heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it could require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Karaka Bays

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that dry air is less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Karaka Bays

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier for the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Karaka Bays Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor 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 Karaka Bays

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Karaka Bays include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karaka Bays for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.