Healthy Homes Assessment Marewa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Marewa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 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 and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Marewa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Marewa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request a house assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Marewa, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Marewa rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in 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 on Marewa rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Marewa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Marewa

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Marewa

Rental properties in Marewa should have a permanent heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should include the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Marewa

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside while remaining closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Marewa

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy for the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Marewa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Marewa

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Marewa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over during the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.