Healthy Homes Assessment Pukerua Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Pukerua Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be completed and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to assess each of 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Pukerua Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Pukerua Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Pukerua Bay, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Pukerua Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Pukerua Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Pukerua Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pukerua Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within the house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Pukerua Bay

Pukerua Bay rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter 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 needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pukerua Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient 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 home is a healthy house

Insulation Pukerua Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and also makes it easier to allow the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pukerua Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the property. 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 Pukerua Bay

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Pukerua Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pukerua Bay for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house assessment.