Healthy Homes Assessment Wallaceville

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 ensure that their Wallaceville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the necessary information to complete 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 landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to assess 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 contract is signed on a Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Wallaceville, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the quality of Wallaceville rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Wallaceville rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wallaceville

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A humid house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Wallaceville

Wallaceville rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it could require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Wallaceville

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Wallaceville

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes an easier task for the home to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wallaceville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wallaceville

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Wallaceville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wallaceville for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for during the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with 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?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house assessment.