Healthy Homes Assessment Aro Valley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Aro Valley rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Aro Valley rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A humid house will cost more to heat, which results 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 unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Aro Valley

Aro Valley rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might just need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Aro Valley

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making more easy for the household to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Aro Valley

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Aro Valley include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.