Healthy Homes Assessment Te Hauke

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Te Hauke rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to 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 will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

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

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Te Hauke rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Te Hauke rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a house assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Te Hauke, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Te Hauke rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Hauke

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Te Hauke

Te Hauke rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in 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 fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Hauke

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Te Hauke

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy for the household to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Te Hauke Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Hauke

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Te Hauke include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Hauke for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over during an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.