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 of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we 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, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Haywards, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Haywards rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance 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 on Haywards rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a 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 cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within your house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards need to have a stable heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Haywards

Every living space of a rental house must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Haywards

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the 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 in the underfloor, 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 all of the 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 moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the 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 with the Healthy Homes Standards in Haywards include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for in a house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.