Healthy Homes Assessment Ngaio

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Ngaio rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Ngaio, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Ngaio rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Ngaio rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Ngaio Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ngaio

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Ngaio

Rental properties in Ngaio require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

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

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Ngaio

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Ngaio

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier to the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Ngaio Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ngaio

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Ngaio include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ngaio for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property house assessment.