Healthy Homes Assessment Waiwhetu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Waiwhetu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must 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’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, and are 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Waiwhetu, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Waiwhetu rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Waiwhetu rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Waiwhetu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiwhetu

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large 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 coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Waiwhetu

Waiwhetu rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waiwhetu

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be less difficult to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Waiwhetu

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task to allow the home to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge 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 – all 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waiwhetu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete 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 to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Waiwhetu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiwhetu for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.