Healthy Homes Assessment Rongotai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Rongotai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties 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 to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified for each of 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request an home inspection performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Rongotai, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Rongotai rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Rongotai rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Rongotai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Rongotai

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it is likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Rongotai

Rongotai rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing fixed 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 the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Rongotai

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding that dry air will be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Rongotai

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier for the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Rongotai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Rongotai

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Rongotai include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Rongotai for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an 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 extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties home assessment.