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 July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully 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 will evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified for 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Pipitea rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Pipitea rental properties.

Start now and call about the 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 house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Pipitea

Rental properties in Pipitea require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), 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 the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Pipitea

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Pipitea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to allow the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor 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

Learn more about 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 inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this 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 with The Healthy Homes Standard in Pipitea include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.