Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

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

It is also important to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Waitangirua rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Waitangirua rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Waitangirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Waitangirua

Rental properties in Waitangirua must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should have the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air will be much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Waitangirua

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s 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 comes to moisture and damp it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waitangirua

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.