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? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Aotea, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Aotea rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for 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 may lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aotea

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is about recognising how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Aotea

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making much easier to allow the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

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

See the full details of 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 what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.