Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Waterloo rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be done and offer a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully certified to assess both 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 Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation 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 necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a house assessment done on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Waterloo, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Waterloo rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in 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 on Waterloo rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Waterloo Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A draughty 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, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from the home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Waterloo

Waterloo rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to have the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Waterloo

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dried air can be more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Waterloo

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make much easier to allow the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, 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 and floor 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waterloo

Property rental areas that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Waterloo include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home assessment.