Healthy Homes Assessment Kotemaori

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Kotemaori rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be done and offer a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Kotemaori rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to note that landlords who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Kotemaori, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Kotemaori rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control within Kotemaori rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Kotemaori Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kotemaori

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into the house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Kotemaori

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

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire 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 offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kotemaori

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Kotemaori

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the 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 rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• 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 standard.

Kotemaori Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kotemaori

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Kotemaori include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kotemaori for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.