Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

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 ensure their Newtown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully certified 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’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 any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance 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 and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Newtown, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Newtown rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Start now and call about having a Newtown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Newtown

Newtown rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might require an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Newtown

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Newtown

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

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

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing 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 Newtown

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Newtown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.