Healthy Homes Assessment Waiwhetu

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 that their Waiwhetu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it’s 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 which requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for 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 to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

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

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Waiwhetu, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Waiwhetu rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Waiwhetu rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Waiwhetu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiwhetu

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Waiwhetu

Waiwhetu rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the living room to at least 18degC, even on the most 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 wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it must have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waiwhetu

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Waiwhetu

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make it easier to the home to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full 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 but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Waiwhetu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiwhetu for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties house evaluation.