Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Trentham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely qualified to evaluate each of 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Trentham, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Trentham rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Trentham rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Trentham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Trentham

Rental properties in Trentham require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just need a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Trentham

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Trentham

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor 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 an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Trentham

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Trentham include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties home evaluation.