Healthy Homes Assessment Maungaraki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Maungaraki 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

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

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

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

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified for 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Maungaraki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

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

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Maungaraki rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Maungaraki rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Maungaraki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maungaraki

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draft 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 are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the house need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Maungaraki

Maungaraki rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Maungaraki

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dried air can be easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Maungaraki

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to the house to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for 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 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Maungaraki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps 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

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Maungaraki include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maungaraki for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check when conducting the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.