Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Newtown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be done, and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely qualified to assess 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Newtown, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Newtown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

Begin now by calling about the Newtown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Newtown

Rental properties in Newtown must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should include the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Newtown

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dried air can be much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Newtown

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to allow the house to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent 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 Newtown

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Newtown include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for during the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.