Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must 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 can assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to evaluate 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Aotea, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the standard of Aotea rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Aotea rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Aotea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Aotea

Rental properties in Aotea need to have a stable heating source that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aotea

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Aotea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make it easier to the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

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