Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

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 now have to ensure that their Hongoeka rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully qualified to assess 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named 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.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Hongoeka rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in 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 Draught Stopping in Hongoeka rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Hongoeka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from the home need the 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 responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Hongoeka

Rental properties in Hongoeka should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living room to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll 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 suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Hongoeka

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to the home to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of 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 through The Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for during the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.