Healthy Homes Assessment Meeanee

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Meeanee rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Meeanee rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Meeanee rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Meeanee, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Meeanee rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about getting a Meeanee Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Meeanee

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of 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 important for well-being homes

Heating Meeanee

Meeanee rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it could require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Meeanee

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The 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 areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Meeanee

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to the house to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Meeanee Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is 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 put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Meeanee

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Meeanee include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Meeanee for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house assessment.