Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The 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 new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed, and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified 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 new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the quality of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Hongoeka rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the household warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Hongoeka

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

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, and stay closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Hongoeka

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to allow the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

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

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

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your 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 Hongoeka

Property rental areas that are affected 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 many things to look over during an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.