Healthy Homes Assessment Te Mata Hills

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Te Mata Hills rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Te Mata Hills rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Te Mata Hills, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Te Mata Hills rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Te Mata Hills rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Te Mata Hills Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Mata Hills

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

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

Heating Te Mata Hills

Rental properties in Te Mata Hills require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Te Mata Hills

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising how dry air will be much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Te Mata Hills

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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 standard.

Te Mata Hills Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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 Mata Hills

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Te Mata Hills include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Mata Hills for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property house assessment.