Healthy Homes Assessment Ahuriri

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Ahuriri rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of 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.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Ahuriri rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Ahuriri rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Ahuriri, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Ahuriri rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Ahuriri rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Ahuriri Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ahuriri

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Ahuriri

Ahuriri rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Ahuriri

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air will be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Ahuriri

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for 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 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ahuriri Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to 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 usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ahuriri

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ahuriri for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.