Healthy Homes Assessment Maraenui

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 make sure that their Maraenui 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 areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified 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 on a Maraenui rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Maraenui, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Maraenui rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Maraenui rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Maraenui

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Maraenui

Maraenui rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Maraenui

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able to open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. This 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 this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Maraenui

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Maraenui Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Maraenui

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Maraenui include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Maraenui for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.