Healthy Homes Assessment Karori

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Karori rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Karori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Karori, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Karori rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Karori rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Karori Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karori

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your home require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Karori

Karori rental properties require a reliable source of heat which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Karori

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air will be more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Karori

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Karori Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karori

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Karori include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karori for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.