Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st 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 rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment done 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?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Waitangirua rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Waitangirua rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Waitangirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Waitangirua

Rental properties in Waitangirua require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our 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.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Waitangirua

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to allow the house to hold heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the 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

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.