Healthy Homes Assessment Papakowhai

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 must ensure their Papakowhai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully certified to assess both 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on a Papakowhai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Papakowhai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Papakowhai, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Papakowhai rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Papakowhai rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Papakowhai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Papakowhai

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Papakowhai

Rental properties in Papakowhai require a reliable heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might need a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Papakowhai

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Papakowhai

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making it easier for the home to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Papakowhai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Papakowhai

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Papakowhai include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Papakowhai for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property house assessment.