Healthy Homes Assessment Heretaunga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Heretaunga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, 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

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

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Heretaunga, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Heretaunga rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Heretaunga rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Heretaunga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Heretaunga

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Heretaunga

Rental properties in Heretaunga must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current fix 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 the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it may need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Heretaunga

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Heretaunga

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to the household to hold the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Heretaunga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Heretaunga

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Heretaunga include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Heretaunga for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• 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 to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.