Healthy Homes Assessment Ōtāne

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Ōtāne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals 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 will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Ōtāne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, 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 penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment done for your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Ōtāne, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Ōtāne rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

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 on Ōtāne rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Ōtāne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ōtāne

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps 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 or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Ōtāne

Rental properties in Ōtāne should have a permanent heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ōtāne

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Ōtāne

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 and 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ōtāne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ōtāne

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standard in Ōtāne include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ōtāne for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties home evaluation.