Healthy Homes Assessment Moera

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Moera rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request a home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Moera, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Moera rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Moera rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Moera Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Moera

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Moera

Moera rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it may require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Moera

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Moera

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy for the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Moera Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Moera

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Moera for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.