Healthy Homes Assessment Pandora

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Pandora rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to assess both 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Pandora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Pandora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Pandora, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Pandora rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pandora

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A humid home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Pandora

Rental properties in Pandora need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. 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. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Pandora

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Pandora

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pandora Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pandora

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Pandora include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pandora for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.