Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Tawa 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 must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under 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 healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to assess 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply 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 homes in New Zealand and Tawa, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the quality of Tawa rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Tawa rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Tawa

Tawa rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Tawa

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy to allow the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Tawa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.