Healthy Homes Assessment Pukahu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Pukahu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

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

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Pukahu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Pukahu, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Pukahu rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Pukahu rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Pukahu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pukahu

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A cold home costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Pukahu

Pukahu rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pukahu

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Pukahu

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to allow the household to keep warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pukahu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pukahu

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Pukahu include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pukahu for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.