Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Maungaraki rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate each of 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Maungaraki, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Maungaraki rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Maungaraki rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Maungaraki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Maungaraki

Maungaraki rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

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

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to have an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Maungaraki

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Maungaraki

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to allow the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maungaraki

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.