Healthy Homes Assessment Heretaunga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Heretaunga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to 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 can evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Heretaunga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Heretaunga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Heretaunga, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Heretaunga rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Heretaunga rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Heretaunga

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from the home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Heretaunga

Rental properties in Heretaunga must have a fixed heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Heretaunga

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air will be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Heretaunga

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task for the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Heretaunga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Heretaunga

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Heretaunga include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Heretaunga for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.