Healthy Homes Assessment Putorino

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Putorino 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 are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Putorino rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Putorino rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request an house assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Putorino, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Putorino rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Putorino rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Putorino Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Putorino

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A cold home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Putorino

Rental properties in Putorino require a reliable source of heat that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it might need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Putorino

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Putorino

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Putorino Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to 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 Putorino

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Putorino include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Putorino for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.