Healthy Homes Assessment Moera

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure 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 rental properties 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

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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 on a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

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

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Moera, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Moera rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Moera rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Moera

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Moera

Rental properties in Moera require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should have a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Moera

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising that dried air can be much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside while remaining closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Moera

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make an easier task to allow the household to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Moera Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Moera

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Moera for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in the home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.