Healthy Homes Assessment Titahi Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Titahi Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant 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 is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully certified to assess each of 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Titahi Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Titahi Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Titahi Bay, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Titahi Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Titahi Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Titahi Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Titahi Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Titahi Bay

Titahi Bay rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might just require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Titahi Bay

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air is more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Titahi Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes it easier for the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Titahi Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Titahi Bay

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Titahi Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Titahi Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.