Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Hongoeka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must 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 will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to evaluate 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 brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

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

It’s important to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Start now and call about the Hongoeka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Hongoeka

Hongoeka rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Hongoeka

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to allow the home to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the 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, underfloor 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 standard.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hongoeka

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Hongoeka include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.