Healthy Homes Assessment Miramar

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that 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 completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to assess both 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in 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 request an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Miramar, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Miramar rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

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

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Miramar Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Miramar

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Miramar

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

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Miramar

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air is more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Miramar

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task for the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about 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 but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Miramar include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Miramar for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.