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 make sure their Waiwhetu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under 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 up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified 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.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Waiwhetu, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Waiwhetu rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Waiwhetu rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiwhetu

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A humid house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being houses

Heating Waiwhetu

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

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Waiwhetu

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Waiwhetu

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to allow the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Waiwhetu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Waiwhetu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiwhetu for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.