Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Te Awa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Te Awa, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Te Awa rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Begin now by calling about receiving a Te Awa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awa

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Te Awa

Te Awa rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the 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 wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must have an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Awa

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Te Awa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make much easier for the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

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

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

Te Awa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awa

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces 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? draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation 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 specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home evaluation.