Healthy Homes Assessment Korokoro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Korokoro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

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 important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Korokoro, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Korokoro rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Korokoro rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Korokoro

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Korokoro

Korokoro rental properties must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 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 health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Korokoro

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Korokoro

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Korokoro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Korokoro

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Korokoro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Korokoro for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over in the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property home evaluation.