Healthy Homes Assessment Onekawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Onekawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to 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 will evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified to evaluate each of 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 contract is signed on an Onekawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on an Onekawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Onekawa, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Onekawa rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Onekawa rental properties.

Start now and call about the Onekawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Onekawa

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within the house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Onekawa

Rental properties in Onekawa need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Onekawa

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how dried air can be much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Onekawa

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task to the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

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

Onekawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Onekawa

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Onekawa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Onekawa for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property house assessment.