Inspection Report

What is the purpose of our inspection?

Residential landlords are PCBU’s (Persons Conducting Business or Undertaking) have a legal duty of care towards their tenants and anyone in their property. They must thus abide by a number of laws some old and some very new.

Landlords must be able to provide records that demonstrate compliance with all relevant legislation on request, for example by the Tenancy Tribunal, or the Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team. Landlords are committing an unlawful act if they don’t supply the records, and don’t have a reasonable excuse, within 10 working days of the request.

It’s thus not sufficient to just comply with legislation; a landlord is required to be able to prove that they comply via their records.

These obligations are on-going and PCBU’s must be able to demonstrate their on-going acknowledgment and management of their duty of care.

The Unimart Rental Compliance Inspection Report evidences the Landlords compliance via a Healthy Homes Guarantee Standards Statement & Asbestos management report.

The inspection includes but is not limited to, items relating to compliance of;

Healthy Homes Ventilation Standards.
Healthy Homes Draught Stopping Standards
Healthy Homes Moisture Ingress & Drainage Standards
Healthy Homes Heating Standards
Health & Safety at Work (asbestos) Regulations 2016
Housing Improvement Regulations 1947
Residential Tenancies Regulations 2016
The Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016
Building Amendment Regulations 2001
Electrical Safety Regulations 2010
Gas Regulations 2010
AS/NZS 1596:2014
AS/NZS 60335.1:2011

The inspector uses numerous items of specialist test equipment; the inspection includes test & tag of up to ten electrical items provided by the landlord. We may also provide literature and in some cases warning labels to ensure that the landlord has discharged his liability under several acts as required.

The inspection records the state of the testable items at the property at the time of test. No claim of on-going compliance of these items is made. However, our report combined with regular inspections and maintenance by the landlord and/or their agent can demonstrate that they have discharged their duty of care under the Healthy Homes Standards and other legislation applicable to the tenancy covered by the inspection.

What won’t we inspect?

We will only inspect Accessible Areas of the Building in a non-invasive way.

We do not carry out specialist leaky building, pest, asbestos, electrical, plumbing inspections or test for contamination from drugs or chemicals used in the manufacture of drugs, as defined by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, and the Report will not deal with these or other areas outside of our expertise. The inspection is NOT intended to be an inspection of the tenant’s use of the property and we will thus not pass comment on this matter. The report remains fully confidential at all times.

Can’t I just do the inspection myself?

The reality is that you probably can’t.

We use specialist equipment; and industry leading inspection software. Our inspectors are deemed ‘competent persons’ due to training they have specifically done. Being an independent inspection company our inspections are impartial allowing you to stand by them. Thus avoiding conflict (s) of interest either real or perceived. Self certification just can’t easily accomplish this.

How often do I need to get my rentals inspected?

We recommend and for many items of inspection it’s mandatory to carry out re-inspection every three years or the point of any new tenancy agreement, which ever is sooner.

What access will the inspector require?

The inspector may need to go under the house into the roof space and into every room and area of the property. The inspection will take anywhere from 90mins to a whole day dependent on the features and configuration of the property.

How much does inspection cost?

Our standard charge is $300 plus gst plus travel, however significant bulk discounts can apply to professional property managers. Re-inspection is on a case by case basis. Prepayment in full is normally required.

So what’s Checked & Why?

Insulation– We inspect any existing ceiling and underfloor insulation to ensure it complies with NZ Standards 4246 2016. In addition to checking that the amount of insulation is sufficient, this inspection will also check for 100% coverage and safety clearances around downlights, chimneys and vents. We also check the electrical safety of any existing foil insulation.

Heating– We inspect the main living room and check that any existing fixed heating devices are ‘qualifying heating devices’ and whether they are of a sufficient size to meet legislation. We also check that they are in good working order and that basic operating instructions have been supplied. We will also test relevant heaters for electrical safety as required by AS/NZS 60335 2.25 and excessive carbon monoxide emissions.

Under Healthy Homes Standards the determination of the heating requirement requires the volume of the room to be calculated and the output of ‘qualifying heaters’ to be ascertained. The result of this calculation is required information in Tenancy Agreements.

Drainage/Moisture Ingress– We inspect and determine whether a moisture barrier is required in the sub-floor area. If fitted, we inspect to ensure it complies with NZS 4246 2016.

We also carry out a visual inspection of gutters, downpipes to ensure they meet Healthy Homes Standards

Ventilation– We confirm that kitchens and bathrooms are fitted with operational free-flowing, externally vented extractors of sufficient size. This normally requires use of specialist equipment to measure the volume of air extracted meets Healthy Homes Standards.

We also check that each habitable area has operable windows able to be fixed open with an area of 5% or more than the room area. We will also visually inspect the rooms for damp or mould.

Draught-Stopping– As required by Healthy Homes Standards, we confirm that any open fireplaces are either blocked or IF in a rural area and the tenant wishes this has been agreed with the landlord and the fireplace is in good order. All external doors and window will be checked for gaps greater than the threshold which could create draughts. Any holes in walls, floors, ceilings with gaps greater than the threshold will also be identified.

Electrical Safety– AS/NZS 60335 2.25 and Electrical Safety Regulations 2010 require any device fitted with an electrical plug that is supplied by the landlord in or at the property to be tested and tagged for electrical safety. We will test and tag up to ten items at the property. We will also ensure that adequate instructions for safe use of appliances are available as per Electrical Safety Regulations 2010. We will test and tag any microwave oven supplied by the landlord in or at the property for radiation leakage as required by AS/NZS 3350 2.25. All other electrical items are then visually inspected for damage and confirmed to be in working order. RCD trips are then tested under load with specialist equipment as per AS/NZS 60335 2.25.

Smoke Alarms– We ensure that smoke alarms that are either hard wired or have long life batteries are installed within 3 meters of every bedroom door or within each bedroom and/or on every level of a multi –story home. As required by New Zealand Building Code 5.2.5 we confirm that they are not fitted in ‘dead space’. We then smoke test them with a professional smoke tester, to ensure they comply with NZS4503:2005 and The Residential Tenancies (Smoke Alarms & Insulation) Regulations 2016.

Water Supply & Sanitation– We check the minimum and maximum temperature of hot water and measure the flow rate of water at sanitary fixings as required by Building Amendment Regulations 2001.

We check that toilets are in good working order and satisfy the requirements of New Zealand Building Code Clause G1 2.1 .1. We will inspect any water storage tanks including basic Coliform Bacteria testing insuring that Housing Improvement Regulations 1947 are satisfied.

Interior Lighting– As per the Housing Improvements Regulations 1947 13 we check that adequate artificial lighting is both provided and in working order in every habitable room, kitchen, kitchenette, bathroom, water closet, passage, and stairway.

Swimming & Spa Pools– Regardless of whether provided by the landlord, we will inspect the property to ensure that any Swimming or Spa Pool meets with the Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016.

Gas Appliances– We will check that any Gas Appliance provided by the Landlord is in working order. We will test Carbon Monoxide output and confirm that within the scope of inspection it would not be deemed unsafe under NZS 5255. We will confirm that within the scope of inspection any stored LP Gas would not be deemed unsafe under AS/NZS 1596 2014.

Dampness– We will check for dampness found by non- invasive visual inspection which could contravene the Housing Improvement Regulations 1947 15.

Pest Activity– We will visually inspect the property and report any pest activity so that an effective control plan can be made thus discharging the landlords duty under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

Asbestos– We will visually inspect the property both internally and externally for any materials that may contain asbestos. We will report any suspected materials and also assess their condition. This will allow landlords to then manage their responsibilities under Health & Safety at Work (asbestos) Regulations 2016.

Falls From Height– As per New Zealand Building Code, Performance F4.3.1 We will check that security stays are present and operational on all windows with a possible fall height of 2m or more to the external ground. Plus we will check any required railings/barriers are present and in good condition in or around the property.