Healthy Homes Assessment Mahora

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Mahora rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 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 and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Mahora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as 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 breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Mahora, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Mahora rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control on Mahora rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Mahora Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mahora

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out from the home require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Mahora

Rental properties in Mahora require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it needs to have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Mahora

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Mahora

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the house to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for 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 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mahora Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mahora

Rental property areas affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Mahora include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mahora for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.