Healthy Homes Assessment Maymorn

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Maymorn rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified for both 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Maymorn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Maymorn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Maymorn, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Maymorn rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control within Maymorn rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Maymorn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maymorn

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Maymorn

Maymorn rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that is able to 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 that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it could require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Maymorn

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising how dry air is less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable 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 a healthy home

Insulation Maymorn

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to allow the household to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Maymorn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maymorn

Property rental areas that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Maymorn include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maymorn for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties house evaluation.