Healthy Homes Assessment Tamatea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Tamatea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified for 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 new or renewed contract is signed on a Tamatea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Tamatea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Tamatea, and research indicates that 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 houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and 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 well-being.

Improving the quality of Tamatea rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Tamatea rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Tamatea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tamatea

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A damp house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the home require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Tamatea

Rental properties in Tamatea need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it could require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tamatea

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Tamatea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make an easier task to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tamatea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tamatea

Property rental areas that are affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Tamatea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tamatea for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.