Healthy Homes Assessment Moera

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Moera rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the information needed for 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 landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Moera rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person 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 needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Moera, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Moera rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Moera rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Moera

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being houses

Heating Moera

Rental properties in Moera must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, 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 well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Moera

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that 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 rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Moera

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to allow the household to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor 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 the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Moera Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of 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
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Moera for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.