Healthy Homes Assessment Karamu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Karamu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under 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 $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Karamu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Karamu, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Karamu rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Karamu rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Karamu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karamu

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Karamu

Rental properties in Karamu require a reliable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested 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 of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might just need an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Karamu

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Karamu

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Karamu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Karamu

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Karamu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karamu for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting an home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties home assessment.