Healthy Homes Assessment Maraenui

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Maraenui rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals 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 assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer 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 breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess both 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Maraenui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Maraenui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. 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 Maraenui, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

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

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Maraenui rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Maraenui Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maraenui

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Maraenui

Maraenui rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Maraenui

Each living space within a rental house must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air will be easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Maraenui

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maraenui Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maraenui

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maraenui for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.