Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Waitangirua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Waitangirua rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Waitangirua rental properties.

Start now and call about the Waitangirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the home require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the home warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test 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 well-being houses

Heating Waitangirua

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

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Waitangirua

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to the household to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

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

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waitangirua

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Waitangirua include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.