Healthy Homes Assessment Pakowhai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Pakowhai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified for both 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Pakowhai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Pakowhai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Pakowhai, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Pakowhai rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in 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 Control within Pakowhai rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Pakowhai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pakowhai

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of the home require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building as the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Pakowhai

Rental properties in Pakowhai need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it might require a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Pakowhai

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Pakowhai

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task to the household to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pakowhai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pakowhai

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standard in Pakowhai include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pakowhai for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.