Healthy Homes Assessment Akina

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Akina rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Akina rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Akina rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an house 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 is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Akina, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Akina rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Akina rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Akina

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A damp house costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Akina

Akina rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Akina

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Akina

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to the home to keep the heat.

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

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

Akina Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Akina

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Akina for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental properties house assessment.