Healthy Homes Assessment Pandora

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Pandora rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s 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 provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully certified to assess both 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Pandora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Pandora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or 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 landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Pandora, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the quality of Pandora rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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 within Pandora rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Pandora Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pandora

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Pandora

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

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 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 your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it could need an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Pandora

Every living space in a rental home must include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air is less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs at least open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Pandora

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make much easier to the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard 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 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 quality.

Pandora Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Pandora

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Pandora include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pandora for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over during the house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.