Healthy Homes Assessment Te Mata Hills

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Te Mata Hills 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 certified by 1 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 to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

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 Mata Hills rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Te Mata Hills rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Te Mata Hills, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Te Mata Hills rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Te Mata Hills rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Te Mata Hills Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Mata Hills

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is 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 are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from the house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Te Mata Hills

Rental properties in Te Mata Hills should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 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 and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Mata Hills

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

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

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Te Mata Hills

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

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

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Mata Hills Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the 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 moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Mata Hills

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Te Mata Hills include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Mata Hills for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check when conducting the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.