Healthy Homes Assessment Ōtāne

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Ōtāne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified to assess both 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Ōtāne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Ōtāne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

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

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Ōtāne rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Ōtāne rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Ōtāne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ōtāne

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Ōtāne

Ōtāne rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could need an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Ōtāne

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising that dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Ōtāne

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task for the house to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ōtāne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ōtāne

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Ōtāne include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ōtāne for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.