Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Wellington rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Wellington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Wellington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Wellington, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Wellington rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, 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 Control for Wellington rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A humid home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Wellington

Rental properties in Wellington must have a fixed heating source that can heat the living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to have an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wellington

Each living space within a rental house must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Wellington

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier for the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Wellington Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wellington

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Wellington include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.