Healthy Homes Assessment Moera

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure 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 must be completely in compliance by July 1st 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 and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Moera, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Moera rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for 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 may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Moera

Rental properties in Moera require a reliable source of heat that can warm the living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Moera

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

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

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Moera

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Moera Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also helps 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 Moera

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Moera include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Moera for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental property house assessment.