Healthy Homes Assessment Pipitea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the details 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 violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Pipitea rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning 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 Draught stopping in Pipitea rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Pipitea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pipitea

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Pipitea

Pipitea rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. 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 heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pipitea

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Pipitea

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pipitea

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Pipitea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.