Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Te Awa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified to assess both 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Te Awa, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Te Awa rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Te Awa rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awa

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the home require seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Te Awa

Rental properties in Te Awa require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Te Awa

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Te Awa

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task to allow the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist 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 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Te Awa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awa

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Te Awa include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.