Healthy Homes Assessment Onekawa

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 ensure their Onekawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must 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 will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Onekawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Onekawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty 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 property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on 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 from New Zealand and Onekawa, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Onekawa rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Onekawa

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Onekawa

Onekawa rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as the heat pump, it could need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Onekawa

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Onekawa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making it easier for the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

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

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

Onekawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Onekawa

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Onekawa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Onekawa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.