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? The landlords are now required to make sure their Hongoeka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

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

It is important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Hongoeka rental properties.

Start now and call about having 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 house costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Hongoeka

Hongoeka rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, 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 well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source such as the heat pump, it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Hongoeka

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the house to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to 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 damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the 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 Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property home evaluation.