Healthy Homes Assessment Putorino

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Putorino rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant 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 check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we 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

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Putorino rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Putorino rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Putorino, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Putorino rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Putorino rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Putorino

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Putorino

Putorino rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require 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 safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it could need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Putorino

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist 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 acknowledging it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Putorino

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the house to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Putorino Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Putorino

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Putorino include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Putorino for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property home assessment.