Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Hongoeka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Hongoeka rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Hongoeka rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of the house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being homes

Heating Hongoeka

Hongoeka rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Hongoeka

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes much easier for the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hongoeka

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.