Healthy Homes Assessment Taradale

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 must make sure their Taradale 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 completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified to assess each of 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Taradale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Taradale 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 inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Taradale, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Taradale rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Taradale rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Taradale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Taradale

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the household warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Taradale

Rental properties in Taradale must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, then it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Taradale

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dried air can be much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Taradale

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Taradale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Taradale

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Taradale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Taradale for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.