Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Waterloo rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to evaluate 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Waterloo, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Waterloo rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Waterloo rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Waterloo Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A humid house costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within the home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Waterloo

Waterloo rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waterloo

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that dried air can be easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Waterloo

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier for the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

See the full details of 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 what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waterloo

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.