Healthy Homes Assessment Rongotai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Rongotai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the information 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 violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified to assess 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 contract is signed on a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Rongotai 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 inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Rongotai, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Rongotai rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Rongotai rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Rongotai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Rongotai

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within your home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the house warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Rongotai

Rental properties in Rongotai require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it may require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Rongotai

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, and stay closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Rongotai

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Rongotai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Rongotai

Property rental areas that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Rongotai include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Rongotai for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house assessment.