Healthy Homes Assessment Wallaceville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Wallaceville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 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 determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Wallaceville, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Wallaceville rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Wallaceville rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Wallaceville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wallaceville

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Wallaceville

Wallaceville rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most 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 wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it could require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wallaceville

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space 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.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Wallaceville

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make much easier to the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the 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 rest area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wallaceville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wallaceville

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Wallaceville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wallaceville for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.