Healthy Homes Assessment Waiwhetu

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Waiwhetu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are 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 requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Waiwhetu, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Waiwhetu rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on Waiwhetu rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Waiwhetu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Draught Stopping Waiwhetu

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within your house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Heating Waiwhetu

Rental properties in Waiwhetu must have a fixed heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it may need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waiwhetu

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

Insulation Waiwhetu

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to the household to retain 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 resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waiwhetu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Rental Property Home Assessments Waiwhetu

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Waiwhetu include each:

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

Home Assessments Waiwhetu for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.