Healthy Homes Assessment Tutira

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Tutira rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 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 and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Tutira rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Tutira rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Tutira, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Tutira rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Tutira rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tutira

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Tutira

Rental properties in Tutira need to have a stable heating source that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to include an thermostat. This will help make 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 necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it could need an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Tutira

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Tutira

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tutira Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing 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 an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also assists 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 Tutira

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Tutira include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tutira for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental property house evaluation.