Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Maungaraki rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be done and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Maungaraki rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Maungaraki rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold house costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Maungaraki

Rental properties in Maungaraki should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might just need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Maungaraki

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Maungaraki

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making it easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

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

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maungaraki

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Maungaraki include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine when conducting an 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 space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.