Healthy Homes Assessment Haywards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified for 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Haywards, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the standard of Haywards rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on 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 may lead to less temperature in houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Haywards

Haywards rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it could require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Haywards

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least open to the outside and remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Haywards

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task for the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

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

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

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haywards

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to the Healthy Homes Standard in Haywards include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.