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 of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that 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 fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete 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 who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully qualified to evaluate both 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 or renewed tenancy is signed for a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of 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 the property in New Zealand and Tawa, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Tawa rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on 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 can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Tawa

Rental properties in Tawa must have a fixed heating source 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 minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it may need a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Tawa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier for the home to hold heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Tawa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.