Healthy Homes Assessment Hawkes Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Hawkes Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks 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 meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Hawkes Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Hawkes Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Hawkes Bay, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and 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 ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Hawkes Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning 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 Draught-stopping in Hawkes Bay rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Hawkes Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hawkes Bay

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Hawkes Bay

Hawkes Bay rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hawkes Bay

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside while remaining closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure 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 dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Hawkes Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making it easier to the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Hawkes Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hawkes Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Hawkes Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hawkes Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate 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 lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.