Healthy Homes Assessment Te Mata Hills

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 Te Mata Hills rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 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 determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Te Mata Hills rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Te Mata Hills, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Te Mata Hills rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Te Mata Hills rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Te Mata Hills Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Mata Hills

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Te Mata Hills

Rental properties in Te Mata Hills need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Te Mata Hills

Each living space within a rental house must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Te Mata Hills

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to allow the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• 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, 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

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

Te Mata Hills Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Mata Hills

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Te Mata Hills include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Mata Hills for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.