Healthy Homes Assessment Arakura

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Arakura 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 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 your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Arakura rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description 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 Arakura, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Arakura rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Arakura rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Arakura Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Arakura

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A draughty house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Arakura

Rental properties in Arakura should have a permanent heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should have the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Arakura

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window 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 property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Arakura

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to allow the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Arakura Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Arakura

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Arakura include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Arakura for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.