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 ensure 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 completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Hongoeka rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance 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-stopping within Hongoeka rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty house costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. 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 isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Hongoeka

Rental properties in Hongoeka need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended 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) 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 could be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it could need a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Hongoeka

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier for the home to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 all of the 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 the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hongoeka

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.