Healthy Homes Assessment Pirimai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Pirimai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant 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 evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Pirimai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Pirimai, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Pirimai rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Pirimai rental properties.

Start now and call about the Pirimai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pirimai

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the building when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Pirimai

Pirimai rental properties require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pirimai

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Pirimai

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task for the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist 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 – the remainder part of 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Pirimai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pirimai

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

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pirimai for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.