Healthy Homes Assessment Mahora

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Mahora rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully 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 assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Mahora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Mahora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to 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 having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Mahora, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Mahora rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Mahora rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Mahora Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mahora

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Mahora

Rental properties in Mahora need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as an air conditioner, it may need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mahora

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property 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 such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our 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 for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Mahora

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

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

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

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

Mahora Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mahora

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Mahora include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mahora for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.