Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

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? The landlords are now required to ensure 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 fully 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 check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6793

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Aotea, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Aotea rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Aotea rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Aotea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your home require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it may require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aotea

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs at least to open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Aotea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to allow the house to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 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, underfloor 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

Property rental areas that are affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Aotea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home evaluation.