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? The landlords are now required to make sure 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 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 determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed 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 comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

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

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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 the property in New Zealand and Haywards, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Haywards rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control within Haywards rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Haywards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will 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 to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Haywards

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Haywards

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater 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 remainder 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this 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 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 concerns you should look for when conducting the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.