Healthy Homes Assessment Haywards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed 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 evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

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Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet 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 a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Haywards, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Haywards rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on 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 houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards require a reliable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Haywards

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Haywards

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

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

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property home assessment.