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 the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for 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 found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to assess 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can 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 provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and request an house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Wainuiomata, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Wainuiomata rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Start now and call about receiving a Wainuiomata Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wainuiomata

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure as the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Wainuiomata

Wainuiomata rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 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 heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are adequate 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 safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to include a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Wainuiomata

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Wainuiomata

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task for the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wainuiomata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wainuiomata

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Wainuiomata include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wainuiomata for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

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