Healthy Homes Assessment Meeanee

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Meeanee rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will 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 assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required 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 in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to assess 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Meeanee rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Meeanee rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on 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 rent homes in New Zealand and Meeanee, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Meeanee rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Meeanee rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Meeanee

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A humid home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of your house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the building as the house warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Meeanee

Meeanee rental properties require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Meeanee

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, and stay closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Meeanee

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to the home to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Meeanee Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring 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 Meeanee

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standards in Meeanee include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Meeanee for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in the house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.