Healthy Homes Assessment Naenae

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Naenae rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be done and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and 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

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Naenae rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is 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 requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Naenae, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Naenae rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Naenae

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A draughty home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Naenae

Naenae rental properties require a reliable heating source that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Naenae

Each living space within a rental house must include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Naenae

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and it will make much easier to the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Naenae Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Naenae

Property rental areas that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Naenae include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Naenae for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house evaluation.