Healthy Homes Assessment Papakowhai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Papakowhai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to 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 and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the information needed for 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 landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6793

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Papakowhai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Papakowhai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Papakowhai, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Papakowhai rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

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

Contact us now to discuss having a Papakowhai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Papakowhai

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within the house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Papakowhai

Papakowhai rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Papakowhai

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Papakowhai

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier for the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, 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

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

Papakowhai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Papakowhai

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Papakowhai include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Papakowhai for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.