Healthy Homes Assessment Rongotai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Rongotai 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 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 assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Rongotai, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Rongotai rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Rongotai rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Rongotai

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Rongotai

Rental properties in Rongotai need to have a stable heating source which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to have the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it might just need an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Rongotai

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Rongotai

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make it easier to the house to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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 quality.

Rongotai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Rongotai

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Rongotai include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Rongotai for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.