Healthy Homes Assessment Napier

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Napier rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, 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 needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified for each of 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Napier rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Napier rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Napier, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the quality of Napier rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Napier rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Napier Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Napier

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Napier

Rental properties in Napier require a reliable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might require a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Napier

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Napier

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to the house to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Napier Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Napier

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Napier for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.