Healthy Homes Assessment Te Aro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Te Aro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, and 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also important to remember that landlords with several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Te Aro, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Te Aro rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Te Aro rental properties.

Start now and call about the Te Aro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A draughty home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Te Aro

Rental properties in Te Aro require a reliable heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it may require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Aro

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Te Aro

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to allow the household to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture 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 also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Aro

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Te Aro include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Aro for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.