Healthy Homes Assessment Haywards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Haywards 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 covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Haywards, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Haywards rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control for Haywards rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Haywards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Haywards

Haywards rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended 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) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Haywards

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow 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 thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Haywards

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the home to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haywards

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.