Healthy Homes Assessment Tamatea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Tamatea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by 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 whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed, and provide a 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 violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Tamatea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Tamatea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Tamatea, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Tamatea rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Tamatea rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Tamatea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tamatea

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A cold home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Tamatea

Tamatea rental properties require a reliable heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just require an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Tamatea

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is less difficult to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Tamatea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Tamatea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tamatea

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Tamatea include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tamatea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The 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 specialist advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.