Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Te Awa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer a report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be 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 does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Te Awa, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Te Awa rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Te Awa rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Te Awa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awa

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

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

Heating Te Awa

Te Awa rental properties should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it needs to include the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it may need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Te Awa

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air is more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Te Awa

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to the household to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Te Awa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awa

Property rental areas that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Te Awa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.