Healthy Homes Assessment Naenae

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Naenae rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Naenae rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is 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.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Naenae, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Naenae rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Start now and call about getting a Naenae Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Naenae

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Naenae

Naenae rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing 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 are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Naenae

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding how dried air can be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Naenae

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make much easier to the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Naenae Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure 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 is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing 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 Naenae

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Naenae include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Naenae for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

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