Healthy Homes Assessment Wadestown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Wadestown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the information 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 breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house 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 important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Wadestown, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Wadestown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control in Wadestown rental properties.

Start now and call about the Wadestown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wadestown

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Wadestown

Wadestown rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might just need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wadestown

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Wadestown

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make much easier to allow the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Wadestown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wadestown

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Wadestown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wadestown for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.