Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure 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 completely in compliance by July 1st 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 whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties 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

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

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property 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 up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Aotea, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Aotea rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Aotea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Aotea

Rental properties in Aotea should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aotea

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces 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 comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Aotea

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the household to retain the heat.

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

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

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

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

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.