Healthy Homes Assessment Karamu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Karamu 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 are required to 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Karamu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Karamu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can 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 wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

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

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Karamu rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Karamu rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Karamu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Karamu

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Karamu

Karamu rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Karamu

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Karamu

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 standard.

Karamu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor 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 Karamu

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Karamu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Karamu for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.