Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Maungaraki 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified for 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, 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 reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to remember that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Maungaraki rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Maungaraki rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Maungaraki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

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

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Maungaraki

Maungaraki rental properties must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC 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 well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it needs to have an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maungaraki

Every living space of a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Maungaraki

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maungaraki

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Maungaraki include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.