Healthy Homes Assessment Korokoro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Korokoro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant 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 your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must 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 the Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Korokoro, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Korokoro rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Korokoro rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Korokoro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Korokoro

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Korokoro

Rental properties in Korokoro must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must have an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Korokoro

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside and remain closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Korokoro

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to allow the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Korokoro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Korokoro

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Korokoro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Korokoro for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.