Healthy Homes Assessment Mohaka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Mohaka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Mohaka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Mohaka, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Mohaka rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss getting a Mohaka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mohaka

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within your house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Mohaka

Mohaka rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Mohaka

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms 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 at least open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Mohaka

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the household to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Mohaka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mohaka

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Mohaka include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mohaka for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home evaluation.