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 are now required to make sure their Tawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant 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 evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified for 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 new or renewed contract is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Tawa, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Tawa rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Tawa rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Tawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Tawa

Tawa rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it may require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. 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.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Tawa

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy for the home to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Tawa include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property house assessment.