Healthy Homes Assessment Ōtāne

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 are now required to make sure their Ōtāne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be done and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified to evaluate each of 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Ōtāne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Ōtāne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one 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.

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

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Ōtāne, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Ōtāne rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Ōtāne rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ōtāne

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Ōtāne

Ōtāne rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Ōtāne

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Ōtāne

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task for the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 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.

Ōtāne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor 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 Ōtāne

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standard in Ōtāne include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ōtāne for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.