Healthy Homes Assessment Wadestown

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 now have to ensure that their Wadestown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully 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 contract is signed on a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

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

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to note that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Wadestown, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Wadestown rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Wadestown rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wadestown

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wadestown

Rental properties in Wadestown must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 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 health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it may need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Wadestown

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how dried air can be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Wadestown

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the house to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wadestown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps 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 to the Healthy Homes Standard in Wadestown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wadestown for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for in a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.