Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure 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 certified 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 determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified for 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 need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Newtown, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Newtown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Newtown rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Newtown

Rental properties in Newtown need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Newtown

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Newtown

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Newtown

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Newtown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over in a house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.