Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Hongoeka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully 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 can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified for both 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Hongoeka

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

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it could require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Hongoeka

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps 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

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

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