Healthy Homes Assessment Aro Valley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Aro Valley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully 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 evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request an house inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Aro Valley rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Aro Valley rental properties.

Start now and call about the Aro Valley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A cold home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Aro Valley

Aro Valley rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as an air conditioner, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Aro Valley

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier to allow the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that 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 an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. 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 Aro Valley

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Aro Valley include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house evaluation.