Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Waitangirua 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 must 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 will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or 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 renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Waitangirua rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss the Waitangirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be 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 coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure as the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Waitangirua

Rental properties in Waitangirua should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it could need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air is much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Waitangirua

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to allow the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better 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 floor 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the 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 Waitangirua

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Waitangirua include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental property home assessment.