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 July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Waitangirua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified 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 tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the quality of Waitangirua rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Waitangirua rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your house need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Waitangirua

Waitangirua rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, 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, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Waitangirua

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well 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 remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waitangirua

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standards in Waitangirua include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.