Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure 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 completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas 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’ll advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

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

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Waterloo rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Waterloo rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Waterloo Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the building when the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Waterloo

Waterloo rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested 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) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it could require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waterloo

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Waterloo

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes an easier task for the household to retain heat.

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

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

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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waterloo

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Waterloo include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call now and schedule your rental property house assessment.