Healthy Homes Assessment Ngauranga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Ngauranga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be done, and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to evaluate each of 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 for a Ngauranga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Ngauranga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with 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 a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet 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 today and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Ngauranga, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those 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 quality of Ngauranga rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means 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, as well Draught Control within Ngauranga rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Ngauranga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ngauranga

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or an opening that 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 the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may 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.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Ngauranga

Ngauranga rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ngauranga

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Ngauranga

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to allow the household to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ngauranga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ngauranga

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Ngauranga include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ngauranga for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine during the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.