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 make sure that their Rongotai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully 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

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

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to remember that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Rongotai, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Rongotai rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on Rongotai rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Rongotai

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy homes

Heating Rongotai

Rongotai rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix 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 portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Rongotai

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air is more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Rongotai

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Rongotai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Rongotai

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Rongotai include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Rongotai for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in the home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.