Healthy Homes Assessment Marewa

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 must ensure their Marewa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

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

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Marewa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Marewa, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Marewa rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Marewa rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Marewa

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

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 and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Marewa

Marewa rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Marewa

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

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Marewa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy to the home to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Marewa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Marewa

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Marewa include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Marewa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house evaluation.