Healthy Homes Assessment Karamu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Karamu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely 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 and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Karamu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Karamu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Karamu, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Karamu rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less 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 Draught Stopping within Karamu rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Karamu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karamu

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within the home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Karamu

Karamu rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to include a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Karamu

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air is much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Karamu

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task for the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better 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 floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Karamu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Karamu

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Karamu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karamu for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over in a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.