Healthy Homes Assessment Heretaunga

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 that their Heretaunga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Heretaunga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Heretaunga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

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

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting 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 needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Heretaunga, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Heretaunga rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Heretaunga rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Heretaunga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Heretaunga

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Heretaunga

Rental properties in Heretaunga need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it needs to have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Heretaunga

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Heretaunga

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to allow the home to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Heretaunga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Heretaunga

Rental property areas affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Heretaunga include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Heretaunga for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.