Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to 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 rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners 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 one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Tawa, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Tawa rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Tawa rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tawa

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure when the home 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 an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Tawa

Tawa rental properties require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Tawa

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Tawa

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps prevent 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

Rental property areas affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Tawa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for in a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.