Healthy Homes Assessment Wainuiomata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Wainuiomata rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties we 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Wainuiomata, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Wainuiomata rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Wainuiomata rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Wainuiomata Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wainuiomata

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A cold home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Wainuiomata

Rental properties in Wainuiomata require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wainuiomata

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Wainuiomata

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to allow the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Wainuiomata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wainuiomata

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Wainuiomata include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wainuiomata for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check during a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.