Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to assess 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 on a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a 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 one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Maungaraki rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about getting a Maungaraki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Maungaraki

Maungaraki rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested 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 minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maungaraki

Every living space of a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Maungaraki

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier for the household to hold the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete 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 through the Healthy Homes Standard in Maungaraki include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home assessment.