Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Trentham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to assess each of 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, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Trentham, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Trentham rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Trentham rental properties.

Get started now and contact us 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 cold house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Trentham

Trentham rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Trentham

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our 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.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Trentham

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier for the household to hold warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 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 - 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 standard.

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Trentham

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Trentham include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes 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 have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.