Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Tawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’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 found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Tawa, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Tawa rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

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

Start now and call about having a Tawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Tawa

Rental properties in Tawa should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dried air can be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. Our 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.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Tawa

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making much easier for the household to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Tawa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.