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 rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under 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 related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are 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

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Maungaraki rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most 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 crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Maungaraki

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

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it could require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Maungaraki

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Maungaraki

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier for the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part 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, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into 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 quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maungaraki

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Maungaraki include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting a home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.