Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Waitangirua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be done and provide a report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely qualified to evaluate 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Waitangirua rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from your home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being houses

Heating Waitangirua

Waitangirua rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it may need a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waitangirua

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Waitangirua

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes an easier task to allow the house to hold warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this 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 to the Healthy Homes Standard in Waitangirua include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.