Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be done and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Aotea, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Aotea rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in 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.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Aotea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it may need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Aotea

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising how dried air can be much easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside, but remain closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

Insulation Aotea

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to allow the home to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standard in Aotea include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house assessment.