Healthy Homes Assessment Rongotai

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Rongotai rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified 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 brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Rongotai rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could 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 home they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest 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.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Rongotai, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the quality of Rongotai rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Rongotai rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Rongotai

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

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

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Rongotai

Rental properties in Rongotai require a reliable source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest 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 as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Rongotai

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Rongotai

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes an easier task for the home to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Rongotai Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Rongotai

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Rongotai include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Rongotai for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.