Healthy Homes Assessment Awatoto

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Awatoto rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Awatoto rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Awatoto rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Awatoto, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Awatoto rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Awatoto rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Awatoto Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Awatoto

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Awatoto

Awatoto rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Awatoto

Each liveable space in a rental home must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

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

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Awatoto

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making more easy for the house to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Awatoto Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Awatoto

Property rental areas that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Awatoto include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Awatoto for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.