Healthy Homes Assessment Te Aro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Te Aro rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully qualified for 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out and 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 when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Te Aro, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Te Aro rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Te Aro rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors as part of an 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 Te Aro

Rental properties in Te Aro need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the largest or main living space to at least 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 heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Aro

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

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

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Te Aro

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making it easier to allow the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Aro

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Aro for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.