Healthy Homes Assessment Tamatea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Tamatea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Tamatea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Tamatea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an 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 fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have 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.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Tamatea, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Tamatea rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Tamatea rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Tamatea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tamatea

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Tamatea

Rental properties in Tamatea must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Tamatea

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dried air can be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Tamatea

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to allow the home to keep warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tamatea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor 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 Tamatea

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Tamatea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tamatea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over during the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.