Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be done, and offer a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified for 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Waitangirua rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Waitangirua rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Waitangirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Waitangirua

Rental properties in Waitangirua require a reliable heating source that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the 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 outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating 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 if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it may need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Waitangirua

Every living space of a rental house must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation 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 quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Waitangirua

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes it easier for the house to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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

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

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waitangirua

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Waitangirua include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.