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 a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be done and provide a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Maungaraki rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Start now and call about the Maungaraki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the household warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Maungaraki

Maungaraki rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it needs to have an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Maungaraki

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Maungaraki

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make it easier to allow the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, 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 harming your tenant’s well-being.

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

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

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this 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 Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Maungaraki include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.