Healthy Homes Assessment Aro Valley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure 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 rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to assess 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, when a new or renewed contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Aro Valley rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Aro Valley rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Aro Valley

Rental properties in Aro Valley must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Aro Valley

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier for 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 is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aro Valley

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Aro Valley include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine during the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.