Healthy Homes Assessment Miramar

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Miramar 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be done and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property, so it 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, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Miramar, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Miramar rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Miramar rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Miramar Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Miramar

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Miramar

Rental properties in Miramar need to have a stable heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Miramar

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Miramar

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier for the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist 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 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Miramar Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Miramar

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Miramar include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Miramar for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

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