Healthy Homes Assessment Te Aro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Te Aro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to assess 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Te Aro, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the standard of Te Aro rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured 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 within Te Aro rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

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

Heating Te Aro

Rental properties in Te Aro require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Aro

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Te Aro

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes much easier for the household to hold warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Aro

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standards in Te Aro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Aro for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and 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 falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.