Healthy Homes Assessment Aro Valley

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? The landlords are now required to make sure their Aro Valley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement 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 property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and request an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Aro Valley rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Aro Valley rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Aro Valley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Aro Valley

Aro Valley rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need 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 safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it may require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Aro Valley

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the 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 and underfloor 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aro Valley

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Aro Valley include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home assessment.