Healthy Homes Assessment Mahora

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 Mahora rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must 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 evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Mahora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Mahora rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house inspection performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Mahora, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Mahora rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Mahora rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mahora

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Mahora

Mahora rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mahora

Each living space within a rental home must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Mahora

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to allow the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Mahora Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the 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 Mahora

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Mahora include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mahora for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.