Healthy Homes Assessment Aro Valley

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Aro Valley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors for 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 for an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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 work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment done for 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?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Aro Valley rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Aro Valley rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are 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 likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Aro Valley

Rental properties in Aro Valley need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must have a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Aro Valley

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dried air can be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Aro Valley

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make it easier to allow the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of this 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
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

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