Healthy Homes Assessment Miramar

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Miramar rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in 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 up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified to assess 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Miramar, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the standard of Miramar rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Miramar rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Miramar

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A humid home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Miramar

Rental properties in Miramar should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source such as the heat pump, it might require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Miramar

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Miramar

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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

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

Miramar Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. 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

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Miramar include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Miramar for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house evaluation.