Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Hongoeka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified 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 to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified for 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Hongoeka rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Hongoeka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Hongoeka

Rental properties in Hongoeka need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required 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" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Hongoeka

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be less difficult to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Hongoeka

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to the house to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of this 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 by the Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during the house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.