Healthy Homes Assessment Wadestown

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 must make sure that their Wadestown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to 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 can assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

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

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Wadestown rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Wadestown rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wadestown

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Wadestown

Wadestown rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like a heat pump, then it may need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Wadestown

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Wadestown

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to allow the home to hold the heat.

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

The "R" signifies 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wadestown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wadestown

Property rental areas that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Wadestown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wadestown for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental property home evaluation.