Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Hongoeka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be done and provide the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could 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 live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who have 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 receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to 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 put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

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

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Hongoeka rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Hongoeka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could 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 an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Hongoeka

Rental properties in Hongoeka should have a permanent heating source which can warm the living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should have an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it could need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Every living space in a rental house must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is more easy to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Hongoeka

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making it easier for the household to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hongoeka

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during an house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.