Healthy Homes Assessment Waiwhetu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Waiwhetu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under 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 healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

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

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting 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 ask us to conduct an home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Waiwhetu, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Waiwhetu rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Waiwhetu rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Waiwhetu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiwhetu

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Waiwhetu

Rental properties in Waiwhetu should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it might need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waiwhetu

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Waiwhetu

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy to the household to keep warmth.

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waiwhetu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to 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 Waiwhetu

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Waiwhetu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiwhetu for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties home assessment.