Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely 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 whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work which requirements to be done and provide a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Aotea, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Aotea rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes 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 that is, it is likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aotea

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation 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 The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Aotea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make much easier for the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Aotea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.