Healthy Homes Manawatu – Inspection Process
If you are unsure whether your properties meet the Healthy Homes 2019 Regulations, you can book an appointment with us and we will inspect your rentals according to the 5 Standards outlined in the Regulations. Once we have your approval to complete the Healthy Homes Inspections, we will arrange a date and time that suits both you and your tenants.
We have many years of experience in arranging property access with tenants and we can organise the inspection on your behalf. In accordance with legal requirements, we always provide tenants with the appropriate notice period of at least 2 to 4 working days.
The Healthy Homes Inspection itself will take between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the size of the property. It is vitally important that we are able to access all rooms and that all manholes are cleared on the day of inspection so we can proceed without delay and complete the assessment within the given timeframe.
If the tenants are unable to be present during the time of inspection, we can arrange to pick up the keys prior to the appointment or ensure they are available at the property on the day. Upon completion of the inspection, you will receive a 20-page statement via email within 48 hours. Once payment has been made, which is required within 2 working days of our visit, we will issue you with a certificate of compliance.
If you have any questions or queries about the report, please contact us on (06) 353 0088. We are here to help you. Our inspectors are fully trained on all aspects of the Healthy Homes Standards ensuring your report is accurate and professionally completed.
To book an appointment or enquire about the cost of a Healthy Homes Standards inspection, contact our friendly team today. The price of the inspection depends on the location of your property, the amount of properties you would like us to assess and any additional services you require help with.
Healthy Homes Manawatu inspections for the 5 standards – how does it work?
Insulation Inspection
Ceiling and underfloor insulation in rental properties has been compulsory since 1 July 2019. However, the new standards may result in some existing insulation needing to be upgraded or replaced. We will assess your property to ensure your current insulation complies with New Zealand Standard NZS4246:2016.
Insulation is measured in R-values. Depending on where in New Zealand your property is located, the R-value for ceiling insulation needs to be between R2.9 and R3.3, while underfloor insulation has to be a minimum of R1.3 throughout the country. Any existing insulation that has been installed prior to 1 July 2016 must be at least 120mm thick.
While there must not be any visible spaces between pieces of insulation or between insulation and framing, adequate spacing must be given around safety clearances including downlights, heating and ventilation appliances. Any damaged, torn or otherwise degraded insulation including mould and dampness will have to be replaced in compliance with the new R-values.
For more information, please visit the Tenancy Service website:
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes/insulation-standard/
Heating Inspection
Using the Tenancy Service online heating assessment tool, we will calculate the heating requirements for your main living room and, after a thorough inspection, will determine whether existing heating devices meet the new standards or need to be upgraded or replaced. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the indoor temperature even on the coldest day of the year should be at least 18 degrees Celsius.
For more information, please visit the Tenancy Service website:
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes/heating-standard/
Ventilation Inspection
We will check for extractor fans in your kitchen and bathroom areas and ensure they are working accordingly and are vented outside. We will also ensure that each habitable room including bedroom, kitchen, living and dining rooms has windows, doors or skylights that can be opened to the outside and fixed in an open position to allow adequate ventilation. In accordance with the new Healthy Homes Regulations, the size of these openable fixtures must be at least 5% of the floor area in each room.
For more information, please visit the Tenancy Service website:
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes/ventilation-standard/
Moisture and Drainage Inspection
We will undertake an inspection to ensure your property has adequate drainage to remove surface, ground and storm water including gutters, downpipes, drains and an outfall such as a soak hole. The drainage system needs to be in good condition without evident cracks, breakages or holes. Pooling of surface water anywhere around the property can be a sign of damage that needs to be addressed.
In addition, we will check the property for the existence of enclosed sub-floors which will require the installation of a ground moisture barrier if it is reasonably practicable to do so. Such barriers tend to be sheets of polythene and can be purchased at most building retailers. They need to meet New Zealand Standard NZS4246:2016 (section 8) or have a vapour flow resistance of at least 50MNs/g.
A subfloor is classed as being enclosed if the airflow in and out of the area is crucially blocked by a masonry foundation wall, any claddings such as cement boards or solid timber skirts, attached structures including garages and carports or any other permanent or semi-permanent structure including rocks and soil. If a space has 3 or more open sides, has trellis cladding or baseboards with various continuous gaps of more than 20mm width, it is not classed as enclosed.
For more information, please visit the Tenancy Service website:
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes/moisture-and-drainage-standard/
Draught Inspection
We will assess your property and check for draught-causing gaps and holes in internal/external walls, ceilings, windows, skylights, floors and doors. Any gap wider than 3mm is considered to be unreasonable as it may cause noticeable draughts. Unused open fireplaces must be closed off or the chimney blocked. However, if the tenant wishes to keep them unblocked, they are able to do so upon request and with written permission from the landlord.
For more information, please visit the Tenancy Service website: