Healthy Homes Assessment Haywards

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 must make sure that their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards 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 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified to evaluate each of 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to remember that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Haywards, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Haywards rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Haywards rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed 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 movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to include the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Haywards

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dried air can be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Haywards

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to allow the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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 Haywards

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Haywards include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.