Healthy Homes Assessment Te Aro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

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

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Te Aro, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

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

Improving the quality of Te Aro rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Te Aro rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Te Aro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from the home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Te Aro

Rental properties in Te Aro require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Aro

Every living space in a rental house must include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dried air can be easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Te Aro

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands 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 – the remainder of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to 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 Te Aro

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Te Aro include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Aro for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for in an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.