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 ensure 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 rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully certified to evaluate each of 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and 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 hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for 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 and are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Maungaraki rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Maungaraki rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A humid house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out into your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows during 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 healthy homes

Heating Maungaraki

Maungaraki rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Maungaraki

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside and remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Maungaraki

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

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

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in the house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house assessment.