Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awanga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Te Awanga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects 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. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Te Awanga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Te Awanga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Te Awanga, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Te Awanga rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Te Awanga rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Te Awanga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awanga

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during an 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 well-being homes

Heating Te Awanga

Te Awanga rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it needs to have an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Awanga

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Te Awanga

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier for the household to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor 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 standard.

Te Awanga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awanga

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Te Awanga include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awanga for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.