Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

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 now have to make sure their Waitangirua 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 completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order 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 about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified for each of 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

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

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Waitangirua rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance 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, and Draught stopping on Waitangirua rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within the house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Waitangirua

Waitangirua rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Waitangirua

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to allow the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

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

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

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waitangirua

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Waitangirua include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house assessment.