Healthy Homes Assessment Wainuiomata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Wainuiomata rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully 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 your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified for both 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, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

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

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

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Wainuiomata, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Wainuiomata rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Wainuiomata rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Wainuiomata Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wainuiomata

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check the 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 crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Wainuiomata

Rental properties in Wainuiomata must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wainuiomata

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, but remain closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Wainuiomata

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to allow the household to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wainuiomata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wainuiomata

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Wainuiomata include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wainuiomata for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental property home assessment.