Healthy Homes Assessment Pandora

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Pandora rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of 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 $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to assess each of 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Pandora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Pandora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Pandora, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Pandora rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less 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 Control within Pandora rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Pandora Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pandora

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A humid house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny 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 opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Pandora

Rental properties in Pandora need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it may require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Pandora

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is about recognising how dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Pandora

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and it will make more easy to the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Pandora Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pandora

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Pandora include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pandora for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.