Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

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 Newtown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer a 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 not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of 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 from New Zealand and Newtown, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Newtown rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Newtown rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Newtown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into your house require the sealing. For example, if 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 such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Newtown

Rental properties in Newtown should have a permanent heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Newtown

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Newtown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make much easier for the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent any damage to your 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 Newtown

Rental property areas affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Newtown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.