Healthy Homes Assessment Te Aro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Te Aro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified for 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Te Aro, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Te Aro rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Te Aro rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Te Aro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A humid house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Te Aro

Rental properties in Te Aro should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors 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 meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it might need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Aro

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Te Aro

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task for the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Aro

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Te Aro include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Aro for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during a house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.