Healthy Homes Assessment Pipitea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Pipitea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas 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 standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Pipitea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, 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 information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Pipitea, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Pipitea rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within 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 are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within your house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Pipitea

Pipitea rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Pipitea

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air will be more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Pipitea

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making it easier for the home to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Pipitea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring 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 the Healthy Homes Standards in Pipitea include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pipitea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.