Healthy Homes Assessment Woodridge

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Woodridge 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 that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate both 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Woodridge, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the quality of Woodridge rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Woodridge rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Woodridge Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Woodridge

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Woodridge

Woodridge rental properties must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might require a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Woodridge

Each living space within a rental house must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Woodridge

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Woodridge Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing 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 Woodridge

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Woodridge for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property home assessment.