Healthy Homes Assessment Korokoro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Korokoro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Korokoro, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the quality of Korokoro rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs 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 as Draught Stopping in Korokoro rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Korokoro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Korokoro

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Korokoro

Korokoro rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the main or largest 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 as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it could need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to 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 ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Korokoro

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier for the house to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Korokoro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the 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 Korokoro

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Korokoro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Korokoro for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• 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 in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.