Healthy Homes Assessment Naenae

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Naenae rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6791

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 a Naenae rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Naenae rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance 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 which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Naenae, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Naenae rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Naenae rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Naenae Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Naenae

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your home require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

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

Heating Naenae

Rental properties in Naenae must have a fixed heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current fix 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 small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Naenae

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient 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 comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Naenae

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Naenae Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Naenae

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Naenae include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Naenae for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.