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 now have to ensure their Ngaio rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Ngaio rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in large 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 ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Ngaio, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the quality of Ngaio rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Ngaio rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ngaio

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a 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 allow air to enter or exit of your home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Ngaio

Rental properties in Ngaio must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Ngaio

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, but remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Ngaio

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the 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, 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ngaio Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standard in Ngaio include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ngaio for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental property home assessment.