Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Tawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be done and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in 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 property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter 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 incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Tawa, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Tawa rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A humid house will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Tawa

Rental properties in Tawa must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Tawa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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

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

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.