Healthy Homes Assessment Paremata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Paremata rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

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

Call Now (04) 280 6793

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 on a Paremata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Paremata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

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

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Paremata, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Paremata rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Paremata rental properties.

Start now and call about the Paremata Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Paremata

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Paremata

Rental properties in Paremata require a reliable source of heating which can warm the living space to a minimum of 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 wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Paremata

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Paremata

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor 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 the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Paremata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Paremata

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Paremata include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Paremata for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in an home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.