Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine 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 of any tasks that requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6777

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 for an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Aotea, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Aotea rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Aotea rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Aotea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the living space to a minimum of 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 well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should have the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aotea

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Aotea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to 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 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Aotea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for during a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.