Healthy Homes Assessment Wallaceville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Wallaceville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully 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 evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

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

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is crucial to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Wallaceville, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Wallaceville rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Wallaceville rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Wallaceville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wallaceville

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will test all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Wallaceville

Wallaceville rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Wallaceville

Each liveable 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 be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Wallaceville

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to the household to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wallaceville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Wallaceville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wallaceville for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.