Healthy Homes Assessment Marewa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Marewa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely 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 determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

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

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Marewa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Marewa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out 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 before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Marewa, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Marewa rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Marewa rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Marewa

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

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 hole that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building when the home warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Marewa

Rental properties in Marewa require a reliable source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to include a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Marewa

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Marewa

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Marewa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes 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.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Marewa

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards 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 you should look for when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.