Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Newtown 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Newtown, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Newtown rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Newtown rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A cold house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the house warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Newtown

Rental properties in Newtown need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Newtown

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Newtown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy to the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full 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 by the Healthy Homes Standards in Newtown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house assessment.