Healthy Homes Assessment Napier

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Napier rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach 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 $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Napier rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on the Napier rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed 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

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Napier, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Napier rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Napier rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Napier Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Napier

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Napier

Napier rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as 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 provide is electric heating or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it may require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Napier

Every living space of a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dried air can be less difficult to 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 such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Napier

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes it easier for the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Napier Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Napier

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Napier include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Napier for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties house evaluation.