Healthy Homes Assessment Haywards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment 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 is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Haywards, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Haywards rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Haywards rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Haywards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A damp house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it needs to include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Haywards

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard 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.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Haywards

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to the home to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haywards

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.