Healthy Homes Assessment Pipitea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to assess each of 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 items must be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Pipitea rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Pipitea rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Pipitea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Pipitea

Pipitea rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Pipitea

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The 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 with high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Pipitea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make more easy for the household to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that 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 the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

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 Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.