Healthy Homes Assessment Kotemaori

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Kotemaori rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a 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 can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done and provide the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified for each of 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kotemaori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Kotemaori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Kotemaori, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Kotemaori rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Kotemaori rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kotemaori

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Kotemaori

Kotemaori rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kotemaori

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air will be 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 areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside and remain closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Kotemaori

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier for the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands 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 rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kotemaori Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kotemaori

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Kotemaori include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kotemaori for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.