Healthy Homes Assessment Te Mata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Te Mata 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 subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements 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 to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Te Mata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Te Mata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Te Mata, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Te Mata rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control on Te Mata rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Te Mata

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps that 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 house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Te Mata

Te Mata rental properties must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it could require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Te Mata

Every living space in a rental house must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Te Mata

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make much easier for the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of 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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Te Mata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Te Mata

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Te Mata include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Te Mata for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home assessment.