Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Hongoeka 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 completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the quality of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Hongoeka rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Hongoeka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Hongoeka

Hongoeka rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during 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 and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it could require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air is much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Hongoeka

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to allow the home to hold heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hongoeka

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.