Healthy Homes Assessment Haumoana

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, 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

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Haumoana rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Haumoana rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out 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 before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Haumoana, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Haumoana rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Haumoana rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haumoana

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A cold house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Haumoana

Haumoana rental properties require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Haumoana

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need 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 with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Haumoana

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making much easier to allow the home to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Haumoana Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier generally 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 water damage to the floor 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 Haumoana

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Haumoana include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haumoana for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.