Healthy Homes Assessment Waiwhetu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Waiwhetu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required 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 any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified for 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Waiwhetu, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Waiwhetu rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control within Waiwhetu rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiwhetu

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A damp house 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 needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Waiwhetu

Rental properties in Waiwhetu require a reliable heating source that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waiwhetu

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising how dried air can be easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Waiwhetu

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to allow the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Waiwhetu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor 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 Waiwhetu

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Waiwhetu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiwhetu for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home 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 an tenant services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.