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 of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Karori rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Karori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Karori, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Karori rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Karori rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karori

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the household is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Karori

Rental properties in Karori need to have a stable heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable 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 uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Karori

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air is easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Karori

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to the household to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor 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 the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Karori Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with 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 a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karori

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Karori include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karori for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine in an home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.