Healthy Homes Assessment Mahora

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Mahora rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Mahora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Mahora, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Mahora rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Mahora rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Mahora Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mahora

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A damp house costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t 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 movement within the building when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Mahora

Mahora rental properties require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional 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 system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it could require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Mahora

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Mahora

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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

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

Mahora Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mahora

The areas of rental property that are affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Mahora include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mahora for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties house evaluation.