Healthy Homes Assessment Poukawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Poukawa 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 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 standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to evaluate 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Poukawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Poukawa, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Poukawa rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs 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 as Draught stopping on Poukawa rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Poukawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Poukawa

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Poukawa

Poukawa rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is 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) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Poukawa

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dried air can be easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient 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 comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Poukawa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier for the home to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

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

Poukawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Poukawa

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Poukawa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Poukawa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over in the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property house evaluation.