Healthy Homes Assessment Haumoana

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 are now required to ensure their Haumoana rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new 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 evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’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 any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified for 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Haumoana rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Haumoana rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Haumoana, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Haumoana rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Haumoana rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Haumoana Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haumoana

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

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Haumoana

Rental properties in Haumoana should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Haumoana

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Haumoana

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task to the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Haumoana Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haumoana

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Haumoana include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haumoana for Rental Properties

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

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.