Healthy Homes Assessment Ngaio

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Ngaio 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 areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under 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 $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified for 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 Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Ngaio, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Ngaio rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Ngaio rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ngaio

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A cold house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building as the household heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Ngaio

Rental properties in Ngaio require a reliable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Ngaio

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that dry air is less difficult to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

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

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Ngaio

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to the home to keep heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ngaio Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ngaio

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Ngaio include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ngaio for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.