Healthy Homes Assessment Te Aro

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? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Te Aro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must 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 assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in 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 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised 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 relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Te Aro, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Te Aro rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Te Aro rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Te Aro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into the home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Te Aro

Te Aro rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it could need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Aro

Every living space of a rental property has to 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 externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs at least open to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Te Aro

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

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

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this 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 through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Te Aro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Aro for Rental Properties

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

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.