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 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 rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by 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 standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be done, and offer a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and request a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 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 tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Haywards rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Haywards rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out into the house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, 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 heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, then it must include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it could need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Haywards

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Haywards

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to allow the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Haywards include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.