Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have 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 are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified to evaluate 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Hongoeka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Hongoeka

Hongoeka rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it could require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air is more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Hongoeka

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to the home to retain the heat.

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

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

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about 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 to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.