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

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Te Aro, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Te Aro rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Te Aro rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Te Aro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Te Aro

Te Aro rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as the heat pump, it may require an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Aro

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Te Aro

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to allow the home to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. 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 Te Aro

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standard 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 a myriad of things to look over in a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.