Healthy Homes Assessment Naenae

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 now have to ensure their Naenae rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must 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 will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Naenae rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Naenae rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Naenae, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Naenae rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Begin now by calling about having a Naenae Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Naenae

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Naenae

Rental properties in Naenae should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Naenae

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Naenae

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and it will make it easier to the house to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Naenae Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Naenae

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Naenae include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Naenae for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over when conducting the home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.