Healthy Homes Assessment Ngauranga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Ngauranga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to 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 evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Ngauranga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Ngauranga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement 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 required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

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

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Ngauranga, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Ngauranga rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Ngauranga rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Ngauranga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ngauranga

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Ngauranga

Rental properties in Ngauranga must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the 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 and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it could require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ngauranga

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dried air can be much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Ngauranga

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to allow the house to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ngauranga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with 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 important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ngauranga

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Ngauranga include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ngauranga for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.