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 ensure that their Trentham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Trentham, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Trentham rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Trentham

Rental properties in Trentham must have a fixed heating source that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Trentham

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Trentham

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make much easier to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with 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 can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor 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 through the Healthy Homes Standard in Trentham include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in a home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.