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 now have to ensure that their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

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

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Haywards rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Haywards rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Haywards Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

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

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Haywards

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

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Haywards

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Haywards

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to the house to hold heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haywards

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property home assessment.