Healthy Homes Assessment Aro Valley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Aro Valley 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in 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 due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Aro Valley rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy homes

Heating Aro Valley

Aro Valley rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it needs to have a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air is less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation 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 The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Aro Valley

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aro Valley

The areas of rental property that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Aro Valley include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.