Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

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 Hongoeka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6793

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Hongoeka rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Hongoeka

Rental properties in Hongoeka require a reliable heating source which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it may need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising that dried air can be easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Hongoeka

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to the home to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hongoeka

Property rental areas that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.