Healthy Homes Assessment Ahuriri

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in 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 any work required. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in 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 of rental properties we are fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

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Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Ahuriri rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for an Ahuriri rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided 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 lease agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest 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.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Ahuriri, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Ahuriri rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Ahuriri rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Ahuriri Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ahuriri

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within your house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Ahuriri

Rental properties in Ahuriri must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Ahuriri

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Ahuriri

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy for the house to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Ahuriri Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ahuriri

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Ahuriri include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ahuriri for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.