Healthy Homes Assessment Rongotai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Rongotai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of 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

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of 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 liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Rongotai, 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.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Rongotai rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Rongotai rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Rongotai

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the home require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

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

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Rongotai

Rongotai rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it may need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Rongotai

Every living space of a rental house must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside and remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Rongotai

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Rongotai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Rongotai

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Rongotai include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Rongotai for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over during the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.