Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awanga

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Te Awanga rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be done and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified for 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Te Awanga rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

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

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Te Awanga, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the quality of Te Awanga rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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 Awanga rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Te Awanga Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awanga

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into the house require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building when the household warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Te Awanga

Rental properties in Te Awanga need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Awanga

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Te Awanga

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier to the household to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Te Awanga Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awanga

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Te Awanga include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awanga for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.