Healthy Homes Assessment Wadestown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Wadestown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess both 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Wadestown, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Wadestown rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Wadestown rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Wadestown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wadestown

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Wadestown

Wadestown rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just need some additional energy 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 costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wadestown

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Wadestown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to the house to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wadestown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to 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 frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wadestown

Rental property areas affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Wadestown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wadestown for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for during the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.