Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awanga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Te Awanga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant 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. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with 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 associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified for both 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Te Awanga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Te Awanga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Te Awanga, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Te Awanga rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Te Awanga rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awanga

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Te Awanga

Rental properties in Te Awanga must have a fixed heating source that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating 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 your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it may require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Awanga

Every living space in a rental home must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air will be more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Te Awanga

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness as well as making it easier for the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

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

Te Awanga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

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

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awanga

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Te Awanga include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awanga for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.