Healthy Homes Assessment Te Aro

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 are now required to ensure their Te Aro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in 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 connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified to evaluate each of 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Te Aro, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Te Aro rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Te Aro rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Te Aro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher 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 getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Te Aro

Te Aro rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it could require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Aro

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least open to the outside, but remain closed to allow 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 adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Te Aro

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Te Aro

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Te Aro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Aro for Rental Properties

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

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.