Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

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 are now required to make sure their Waitangirua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to evaluate both 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, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Waitangirua rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Waitangirua rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Waitangirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A humid home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Waitangirua

Rental properties in Waitangirua must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might require a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Waitangirua

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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 do not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Waitangirua

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier for the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing 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 Waitangirua

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check during the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up 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 that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home assessment.