Healthy Homes Assessment Tutira

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Tutira rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete 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 conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely qualified to assess each of 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Tutira rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Tutira rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay 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, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Tutira, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Tutira rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Tutira rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Tutira Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Tutira

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Tutira

Rental properties in Tutira must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Tutira

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dried air can be much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, but 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 property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Tutira

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make more easy for the house to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Tutira Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Tutira

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Tutira include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Tutira for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.