Healthy Homes Assessment Haywards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Haywards, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Haywards rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about the Haywards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

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

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might just require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Haywards

Every living space in a rental house must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal 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 should ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• 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 quality.

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haywards

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Haywards include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.