Healthy Homes Assessment Aotea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Aotea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st 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 and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6793

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Aotea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing 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 contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households 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 tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Aotea rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Aotea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Aotea

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the building when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Aotea

Aotea rental properties should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require some additional energy to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Aotea

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Aotea

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

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

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Aotea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Aotea

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Aotea for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.