Healthy Homes Assessment Naenae

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Naenae rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Naenae rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Naenae rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Naenae, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Naenae rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Naenae rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Naenae Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Naenae

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Naenae

Rental properties in Naenae need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Naenae

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Naenae

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make it easier to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

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

• 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Naenae Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Naenae

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standard in Naenae include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Naenae for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.