Healthy Homes Assessment Ngaio

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Ngaio rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are 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 standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in 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 $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate both 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 tenancy is signed for a Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

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

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Ngaio rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over 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 Draught Stopping on Ngaio rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ngaio

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Ngaio

Ngaio rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must have an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. 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 may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Ngaio

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be more easy to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Ngaio

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to allow the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ngaio Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and 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 block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ngaio

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Ngaio include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ngaio for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.