Healthy Homes Assessment Ngaio

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure 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 can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Ngaio, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Ngaio rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Ngaio rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ngaio

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Ngaio

Ngaio rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it needs to have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it may need a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Ngaio

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dried air can be much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside and remain closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Ngaio

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes much easier for the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists 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 part of 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ngaio Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ngaio

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Ngaio include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ngaio for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.