Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Trentham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified 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 contract is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

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

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Trentham rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Trentham rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Trentham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should 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 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 heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Trentham

Rental properties in Trentham need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested 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 minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like heat pumps, it might just need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Trentham

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dried air can be much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Trentham

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier for the house to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of 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

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

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Trentham

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Trentham include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.