Healthy Homes Assessment Te Marua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Te Marua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 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 to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Te Marua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Te Marua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Te Marua, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Te Marua rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about having a Te Marua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Marua

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Te Marua

Te Marua rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest 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 health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Marua

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Te Marua

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to the household to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Te Marua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and 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 moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Marua

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Te Marua include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Marua for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.