Healthy Homes Assessment Wilton

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 ensure their Wilton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties 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 will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Wilton, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Wilton rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Wilton rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Wilton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wilton

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped 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 from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Wilton

Wilton rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Wilton

Every living space of a rental home must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Wilton

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better 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 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wilton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wilton

Property rental areas that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Wilton include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wilton for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.