Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Newtown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request an home assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Newtown, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of Newtown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Newtown rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Newtown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Newtown

Rental properties in Newtown require a reliable heating source which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it could require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Newtown

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Newtown

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness as well as making it easier to allow the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Newtown

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Newtown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has 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 a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.