Healthy Homes Assessment Taita

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Taita rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must 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 will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified 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 for a Taita rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Taita, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Taita rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected 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 set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Taita rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Taita

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the household warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Taita

Taita rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Taita

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Taita

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making much easier to allow the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well 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 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Taita Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

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

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing 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 Taita

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standards in Taita include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Taita for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.