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 now have to make sure that their Aro Valley rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be done and offer a report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill 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 healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely qualified for 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Aro Valley rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Aro Valley, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Aro Valley rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss getting a Aro Valley Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aro Valley

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A humid house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out into the home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the home warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Aro Valley

Aro Valley rental properties should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aro Valley

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Aro Valley

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task to the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• 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

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

Aro Valley Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aro Valley

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Aro Valley include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aro Valley for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.