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 must ensure their Waitangirua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a 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 meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of Waitangirua rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Waitangirua rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Waitangirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements 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 and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out from the house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Waitangirua

Rental properties in Waitangirua must have a fixed heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Every living space of a rental house must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Waitangirua

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make it easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waitangirua

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Waitangirua include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.