Healthy Homes Assessment Akina

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Akina rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate 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 of any tasks that needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under 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 connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on an Akina rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on an Akina rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Akina, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Akina rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Akina rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Akina Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Akina

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Akina

Rental properties in Akina require a reliable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it might need an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Akina

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. 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 for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Akina

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to allow the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Akina Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and soil, 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 to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring 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 Akina

Property rental areas that are affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Akina include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Akina for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.