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 now have to ensure their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by 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 whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified to evaluate each of 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on 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 new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Pipitea, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

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

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

Start now and call about receiving a Pipitea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home require seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Pipitea

Rental properties in Pipitea require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should include the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Pipitea

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Pipitea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make more easy for the home to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pipitea

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Pipitea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.