Healthy Homes Assessment Ngaio

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must 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 rental properties must be fully certified 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 assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified 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, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Ngaio, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less 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, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Ngaio rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Ngaio rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Ngaio Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ngaio

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from your home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Ngaio

Ngaio rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ngaio

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Ngaio

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to the household to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about 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 it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ngaio

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Ngaio include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ngaio for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties house evaluation.