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 make sure that their Miramar rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully 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 can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be done and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Miramar rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Miramar, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Miramar rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Miramar rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Miramar Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Miramar

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the building as the home heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Miramar

Rental properties in Miramar must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC 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 outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might just require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Miramar

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Miramar

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Miramar Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Miramar include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Miramar for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during a home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property home assessment.