Healthy Homes Assessment Tamatea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas that are 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 assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to assess each of 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 on a Tamatea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Tamatea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current 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.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Tamatea, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Tamatea rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Tamatea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tamatea

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

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

Heating Tamatea

Tamatea rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Tamatea

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Tamatea

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Tamatea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tamatea

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Tamatea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tamatea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient 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 relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties house evaluation.