Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Trentham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Trentham, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Trentham rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Start now and call about getting a Trentham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A draughty home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the home require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Trentham

Trentham rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Trentham

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Trentham

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy for the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

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

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Trentham

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Trentham include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home 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 getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.