Healthy Homes Assessment Pipitea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must 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 will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out 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 current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Pipitea rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Pipitea rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Pipitea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Pipitea

Rental properties in Pipitea need to have a stable heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pipitea

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Pipitea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

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

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

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 the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor 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 Pipitea

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Pipitea include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.