Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Te Awa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully 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 evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

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

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Te Awa, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Te Awa rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less 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, and Draught Control within Te Awa rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Te Awa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awa

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements 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 out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Te Awa

Rental properties in Te Awa must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during 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 outlook.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it could require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Awa

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Te Awa

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to allow the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Awa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awa

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

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awa for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.