Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure 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 must 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 evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely certified to evaluate 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Waterloo, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Waterloo rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Start now and call about getting a Waterloo Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Waterloo

Waterloo rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to include a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Waterloo

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

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The 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 The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Waterloo

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make more easy for the household to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist 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 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, 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 sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waterloo

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Waterloo include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.