Healthy Homes Assessment Awatoto

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Awatoto rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties 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 to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Awatoto rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Awatoto rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment done for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Awatoto, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the standard of Awatoto rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Awatoto rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Awatoto

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Awatoto

Awatoto rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it needs to include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Awatoto

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising that dried air can be more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Awatoto

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy for the household to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Awatoto Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Awatoto

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standards in Awatoto include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Awatoto for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during the home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.