Healthy Homes Assessment Ahuriri

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Ahuriri rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on an Ahuriri rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on an Ahuriri rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Ahuriri, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Ahuriri rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Ahuriri rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ahuriri

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A cold home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need 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 movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Ahuriri

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

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must have a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Ahuriri

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Ahuriri

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ahuriri Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ahuriri

The areas of rental property that are affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Ahuriri include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ahuriri for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during a home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.