Healthy Homes Assessment Aro Valley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Aro Valley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 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 the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Aro Valley rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Aro Valley rental properties.

Start now and call about the Aro Valley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Aro Valley

Rental properties in Aro Valley should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Aro Valley

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aro Valley

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Aro Valley include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for during an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental properties home evaluation.