Healthy Homes Assessment Totara Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Totara Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6792

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Totara Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to remember that a landlord with several rental properties can face additional 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, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Totara Park, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Totara Park rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Totara Park rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Totara Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Totara Park

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the home require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will test all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Totara Park

Totara Park rental properties should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the 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 outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Totara Park

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dried air can be easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Totara Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Totara Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Totara Park

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Totara Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Totara Park for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over in a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.