Healthy Homes Assessment Wallaceville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Wallaceville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed 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 can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely qualified 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 Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Wallaceville, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Wallaceville rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Wallaceville rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Wallaceville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wallaceville

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the home warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Wallaceville

Rental properties in Wallaceville should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Wallaceville

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Wallaceville

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to allow the house to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 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 - 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 quality.

Wallaceville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wallaceville

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Wallaceville include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wallaceville for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.