Healthy Homes Assessment Maoribank

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with 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 any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6792

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Maoribank rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Maoribank rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. 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 Maoribank, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Maoribank rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance 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, as well Draught Stopping on Maoribank rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Maoribank Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maoribank

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your home require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Maoribank

Rental properties in Maoribank must have a fixed heating source that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might just require an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maoribank

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Maoribank

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to allow the household to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 and floor 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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Maoribank Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maoribank

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Maoribank include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maoribank for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.