Healthy Homes Assessment Te Mata Hills

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Te Mata Hills rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide the report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate both 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 Te Mata Hills rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Te Mata Hills rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Te Mata Hills, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Te Mata Hills rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Te Mata Hills rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Te Mata Hills Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Mata Hills

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Te Mata Hills

Te Mata Hills rental properties need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it could need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Mata Hills

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dried air can be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Te Mata Hills

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to allow the home to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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

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

Te Mata Hills Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior 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 inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Mata Hills

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Te Mata Hills include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Mata Hills for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home assessment.