Healthy Homes Assessment Pukahu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Pukahu 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Pukahu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Pukahu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Pukahu, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Pukahu rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected 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 requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Pukahu rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Pukahu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pukahu

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into your house need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for well-being homes

Heating Pukahu

Rental properties in Pukahu require a reliable heating source that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional 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 that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should include the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it may need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Pukahu

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Pukahu

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pukahu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pukahu

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Pukahu include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pukahu for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.