Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awanga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Te Awanga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

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

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 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.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Te Awanga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and request an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Te Awanga, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Te Awanga rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are 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 having a Te Awanga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awanga

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Te Awanga

Te Awanga rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Te Awanga

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate 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 warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Te Awanga

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Te Awanga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awanga

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Te Awanga include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awanga for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.