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 July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Aro Valley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully certified for both 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 brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or amended 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 building they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

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 living because of illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Aro Valley rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Aro Valley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Aro Valley

Aro Valley rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it might require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Each living space within a rental house must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Aro Valley

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to allow the home to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps 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 Aro Valley

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Aro Valley include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.