Healthy Homes Assessment Te Aro

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 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 renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals 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 can assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Te Aro rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one 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 Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Te Aro, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the standard of Te Aro rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Te Aro rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Te Aro Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Aro

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

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

What are 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 somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Te Aro

Rental properties in Te Aro must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might require a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Aro

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure 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 The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Te Aro

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to allow the home to hold warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Aro Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness 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 is about damp and water, it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Aro

Property rental areas that are affected by The 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 concerns you should look for when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.