Healthy Homes Assessment Ōtāne

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Ōtāne 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Ōtāne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Ōtāne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Ōtāne, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Ōtāne rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control for Ōtāne rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Ōtāne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ōtāne

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Ōtāne

Ōtāne rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ōtāne

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air will be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Ōtāne

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ōtāne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your 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 Ōtāne

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Ōtāne include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ōtāne for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with 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 that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.