Healthy Homes Assessment Wadestown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Wadestown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the 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 the property in New Zealand and Wadestown, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Wadestown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Wadestown rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Wadestown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wadestown

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wadestown

Rental properties in Wadestown require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 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 well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like 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 living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wadestown

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening 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 cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Wadestown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to allow the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wadestown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the 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 to the Healthy Homes Standards in Wadestown include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wadestown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.