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? The 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 completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified to assess each of 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 work must be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if 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 within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $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 for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed for your rental property.

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?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes 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 tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Wainuiomata rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

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

Get started now and contact us about having a Wainuiomata Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wainuiomata

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the household heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wainuiomata

Wainuiomata rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wainuiomata

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Wainuiomata

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task to allow the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist 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 rest part 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, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wainuiomata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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

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

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wainuiomata for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.