Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Trentham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy agreement’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 to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Trentham, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Trentham rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Trentham rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Trentham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid house costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Trentham

Rental properties in Trentham require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll 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 in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Trentham

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Trentham

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the home to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Trentham

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for during the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.