Healthy Homes Assessment Marewa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Marewa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must 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 evaluate 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 of the tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Marewa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Marewa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

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

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of Marewa rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Marewa rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Marewa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Marewa

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Marewa

Marewa rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Marewa

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Marewa

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make more easy for the household to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Marewa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Marewa

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standard in Marewa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Marewa for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.