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 are now required to ensure 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 are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties and 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the quality of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss getting a Hongoeka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Hongoeka

Rental properties in Hongoeka require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Hongoeka

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• 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 and floor 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

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

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house assessment.