Healthy Homes Assessment Raupunga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Raupunga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 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. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified to evaluate 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Raupunga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Raupunga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Raupunga, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Raupunga rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Raupunga rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Raupunga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Raupunga

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A cold home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being homes

Heating Raupunga

Rental properties in Raupunga must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Raupunga

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Raupunga

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making it easier for the house to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Raupunga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Raupunga

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Raupunga include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Raupunga for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over during an house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home assessment.