Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Aotea, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Aotea rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Aotea rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Aotea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will test all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, 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 and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aotea

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Aotea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness as well as making much easier for the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Aotea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.