Healthy Homes Assessment Poraiti

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Poraiti rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be done and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Poraiti rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay 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 name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Poraiti, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Poraiti rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Poraiti rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Poraiti Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Poraiti

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Poraiti

Rental properties in Poraiti need to have a stable heating source which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Poraiti

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Poraiti

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the house to hold heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Poraiti Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Poraiti

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Poraiti include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Poraiti for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for in the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.