Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Aotea, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Aotea rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Aotea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. 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 heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should include a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it could need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aotea

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air will be easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Aotea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier for the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands 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 – all 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standards in Aotea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.