Healthy Homes Assessment Onekawa

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? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Onekawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 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 to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Onekawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

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

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Onekawa rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Onekawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Onekawa

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Onekawa

Rental properties in Onekawa must have a fixed heating source that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 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 health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to 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 regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Onekawa

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Onekawa

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Onekawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Onekawa

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Onekawa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Onekawa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.