Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Trentham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties we are fully qualified 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Trentham, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Trentham rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control on Trentham rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Trentham

Rental properties in Trentham must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Trentham

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Trentham

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make it easier to the house to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Trentham

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Trentham include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.