Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Maungaraki rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Maungaraki rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Maungaraki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building as the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Maungaraki

Rental properties in Maungaraki need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll 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 under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it could require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Maungaraki

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dried air can be less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Maungaraki

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor 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 it will make much easier to the household to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maungaraki

Property rental areas that are affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Maungaraki include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property house assessment.