Healthy Homes Assessment Akina

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Akina rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified for each of 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 on an Akina rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Akina rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house inspection performed on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Akina, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Akina rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Akina rental properties.

Start now and call about the Akina Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Akina

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A draughty house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Akina

Rental properties in Akina require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small 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 a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Akina

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air will be easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Akina

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to allow the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Akina Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Akina

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Akina include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Akina for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.