Healthy Homes Assessment Wadestown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Wadestown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information 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 under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties 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

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

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Wadestown 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 deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with 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 meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed for 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 important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Wadestown, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Wadestown rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wadestown

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

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 out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out from your house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Wadestown

Wadestown rental properties need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable 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, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wadestown

Every living space of a rental house must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Wadestown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wadestown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wadestown

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Wadestown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wadestown for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home evaluation.