Healthy Homes Assessment Rongotai

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 Rongotai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely 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 your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks 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 under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified for 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Rongotai, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Rongotai rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Rongotai rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Rongotai

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the home require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Rongotai

Rongotai 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 minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Rongotai

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, but remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable 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 standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Rongotai

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task to allow the home to hold warmth.

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

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

• 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Rongotai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Rongotai

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Rongotai include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Rongotai for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.