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 in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Te Aro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must 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 to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be done and offer the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Te Aro, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Te Aro rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Te Aro rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Te Aro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Te Aro

Te Aro rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the 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 remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Aro

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, but remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Te Aro

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to allow the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well 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 remainder 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. 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 to The Healthy Homes Standard in Te Aro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Aro for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.