Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed 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 assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details 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 supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Aotea, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Aotea rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Aotea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Aotea

Rental properties in Aotea must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just need an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aotea

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air is less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Aotea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically 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 helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Aotea include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.