Healthy Homes Assessment Korokoro

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? Landlords must ensure their Korokoro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals 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 can assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the 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 information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Korokoro, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Korokoro rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Korokoro rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Korokoro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Korokoro

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A damp house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

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’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Korokoro

Korokoro rental properties must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Korokoro

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Korokoro

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist 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 part 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Korokoro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Korokoro

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Korokoro for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.