Healthy Homes Assessment Tutira

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Tutira 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 compliant 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 evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

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 Tutira rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Tutira rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and request an house assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Tutira, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Tutira rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Contact us now to discuss getting a Tutira Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tutira

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within the house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows as part of an 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 for healthy houses

Heating Tutira

Tutira rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it should have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tutira

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Tutira

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

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

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Tutira Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tutira

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Tutira include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tutira for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.