Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

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

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be done, and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on the Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Waitangirua rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Waitangirua

Waitangirua rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least open to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Waitangirua

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. 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 Waitangirua

Property rental areas that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Waitangirua include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.