Healthy Homes Assessment Takapuwahia

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 that their Takapuwahia rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified 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 whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, we are 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

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Takapuwahia rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Takapuwahia 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 period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Takapuwahia, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Takapuwahia rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control on Takapuwahia rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Takapuwahia Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Takapuwahia

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Takapuwahia

Takapuwahia rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it may need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Takapuwahia

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air is easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Takapuwahia

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to allow the house to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Takapuwahia Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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 Takapuwahia

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Takapuwahia include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Takapuwahia for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have 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 an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental property house assessment.