Healthy Homes Assessment Karaka Bays

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Karaka Bays 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done and offer the 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 violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified to assess 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Karaka Bays rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Karaka Bays rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Karaka Bays, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Karaka Bays rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Karaka Bays rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Karaka Bays Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karaka Bays

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A humid home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Karaka Bays

Karaka Bays rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. 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 mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it may require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Karaka Bays

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient 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 this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Karaka Bays

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Karaka Bays Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karaka Bays

The areas of rental property that are affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Karaka Bays include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karaka Bays for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.