Healthy Homes Assessment Tawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Tawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, and are completely 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 or renewed tenancy is signed for a Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Tawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Tawa, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Tawa rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and 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 may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Tawa

Rental properties in Tawa need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it might require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tawa

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is more easy to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Tawa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making an easier task to allow the home to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Tawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tawa

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Tawa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tawa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.