Healthy Homes Assessment Napier

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Napier rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified 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 to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess 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 Napier rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Napier rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

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

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Napier, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Napier rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance 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 Napier rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Napier Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Napier

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your home require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Napier

Rental properties in Napier require a reliable source of heating that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it could need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Napier

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Napier

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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

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

Napier Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Napier

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Napier include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Napier for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.