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? Landlords now have 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 rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the standard of Aro Valley rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Aro Valley rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Aro Valley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the house warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Aro Valley

Rental properties in Aro Valley require a reliable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it may need a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Aro Valley

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to the home to retain warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

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

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

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aro Valley

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Aro Valley include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for during the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.