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 make sure their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified to evaluate 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Aotea, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Aotea rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Aotea rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Aotea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors in the 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 houses

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it could need an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aotea

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is less difficult 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 considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Aotea

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the household to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Aotea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.