Healthy Homes Assessment Onekawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Onekawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to 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 can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on an Onekawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for 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 company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

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

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Onekawa rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Onekawa rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Onekawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Onekawa

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within the home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Onekawa

Onekawa rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must include the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Onekawa

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Onekawa

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to allow the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Onekawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Onekawa

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Onekawa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Onekawa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.