Healthy Homes Assessment Te Mata Hills

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Te Mata Hills 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Te Mata Hills rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Te Mata Hills rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed for 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 so important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Te Mata Hills, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Te Mata Hills rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Te Mata Hills rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Te Mata Hills Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Mata Hills

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A cold home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Te Mata Hills

Rental properties in Te Mata Hills require a reliable source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must include the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as the heat pump, it might require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Te Mata Hills

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Te Mata Hills

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy for the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Mata Hills 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; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Mata Hills

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Te Mata Hills include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Mata Hills for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.