Healthy Homes Assessment Taita

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 make sure their Taita rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Taita rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Taita rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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 the property in New Zealand and Taita, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Taita rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about getting a Taita Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Taita

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Taita

Taita rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current installed 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 aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it could require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Taita

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Taita

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier for the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Taita 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 and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Taita

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Taita include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Taita for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home assessment.