Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that 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 fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Trentham, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Trentham rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Trentham rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Trentham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Trentham

Rental properties in Trentham require a reliable heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 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 well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Trentham

Every living space of a rental house must include at least one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dried air can be more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Trentham

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Trentham include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property house assessment.