Healthy Homes Assessment Iona

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Iona 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 to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done and provide a report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

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

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Iona rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Iona, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Iona rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Iona rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Iona Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Iona

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area 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, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building as the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Iona

Iona rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Iona

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Iona

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy to the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, 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 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Iona Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Iona

Property rental areas that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Iona include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Iona for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during an house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.