Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas 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. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Maungaraki rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Maungaraki rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A humid house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Maungaraki

Rental properties in Maungaraki need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Maungaraki

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Maungaraki

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full 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 by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Maungaraki include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.