Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awanga

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 must make sure their Te Awanga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 232 113

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 Te Awanga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Te Awanga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to note that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Te Awanga, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Te Awanga rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Te Awanga rental properties.

Start now and call about the Te Awanga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awanga

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A humid house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Te Awanga

Rental properties in Te Awanga should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Te Awanga

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

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Te Awanga

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Awanga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part 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 floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your 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 Te Awanga

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Te Awanga include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awanga for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.