Healthy Homes Assessment Rongotai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Rongotai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Rongotai, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Rongotai rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Rongotai rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Rongotai Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Rongotai

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Rongotai

Rongotai rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, 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 as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Rongotai

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Rongotai

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Rongotai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Rongotai

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Rongotai include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Rongotai for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house assessment.