Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Waterloo rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the details required 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 any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 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 inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Waterloo, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Waterloo rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A humid house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Waterloo

Waterloo rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waterloo

Every living space of a rental house must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air will be easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Waterloo

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy for the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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 Waterloo

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Waterloo include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house assessment.