Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully 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 assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property 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 requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

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

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Aotea rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Aotea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it may require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aotea

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dried air can be much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Aotea

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy for the household to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during an home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.