Healthy Homes Assessment Te Awa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Te Awa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties 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 will evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done, and offer the report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

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

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Te Awa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may 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 home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Te Awa, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Te Awa rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Te Awa rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Awa

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being homes

Heating Te Awa

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

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it must have an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just need a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Te Awa

Every living space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Te Awa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make it easier for the home to keep heat.

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

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

• 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 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Te Awa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Awa

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standard in Te Awa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Awa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during an house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.