Healthy Homes Assessment Wainuiomata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Wainuiomata rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can 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 of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to evaluate 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

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

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Wainuiomata, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Wainuiomata rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Wainuiomata rental properties.

Start now and call about the Wainuiomata Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wainuiomata

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of your home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Wainuiomata

Rental properties in Wainuiomata should have a permanent heating source that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it might require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wainuiomata

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Wainuiomata

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making it easier to allow the household to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wainuiomata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps 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 with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Wainuiomata include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wainuiomata for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for in the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.