Healthy Homes Assessment Haumoana

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 their Haumoana rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Haumoana rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Haumoana rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Haumoana, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Haumoana rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Haumoana rental properties.

Start now and call about the Haumoana Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haumoana

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A humid house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Haumoana

Rental properties in Haumoana should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Haumoana

Every living space of a rental house must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Haumoana

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the house to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Haumoana Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haumoana

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Haumoana include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haumoana for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house assessment.