Healthy Homes Assessment Wainuiomata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Wainuiomata rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

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

It is also important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Wainuiomata, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Wainuiomata rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Wainuiomata rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Wainuiomata Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wainuiomata

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Wainuiomata

Rental properties in Wainuiomata must have a fixed heating source that can heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wainuiomata

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Wainuiomata

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness as well as making much easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

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

Wainuiomata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically what you don’t see that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wainuiomata

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Wainuiomata include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wainuiomata for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine in a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.