Healthy Homes Assessment Mohaka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Mohaka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Mohaka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may 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 landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to note that a landlord who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Mohaka, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Mohaka rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Mohaka rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Mohaka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mohaka

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Mohaka

Rental properties in Mohaka require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mohaka

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Mohaka

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making more easy for the home to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required 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, higher the standard of insulation.

• 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mohaka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mohaka

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Mohaka include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mohaka for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, 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 an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.