Healthy Homes Assessment Hongoeka

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Hongoeka rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Hongoeka, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Hongoeka rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Hongoeka rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Hongoeka Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hongoeka

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, 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 possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Hongoeka

Hongoeka rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hongoeka

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that 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 all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Hongoeka

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of 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 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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Hongoeka Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hongoeka

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Hongoeka include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hongoeka for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over during a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.